AOTA Ethical & Legal Considerations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sensory integration-certified OT is asked by a school to train aides to independently administer 'heavy work' activities as an SI-based intervention. The ethical concern is:
- Aides may not work with children in school settings
- Delegating clinical judgment tasks to unqualified personnel violates supervision and scope of practice standards (Correct answer)
- Heavy work activities are not considered evidence-based
- Schools are not permitted to use SI-based strategies
Correct answer: Delegating clinical judgment tasks to unqualified personnel violates supervision and scope of practice standards
OTs must ensure that delegation of tasks does not exceed the competency level of support personnel, particularly for clinical interventions.
Question 2: Which AOTA document provides the primary ethical framework guiding occupational therapy practice, including sensory integration specialization?
- OT Practice Framework (OTPF)
- AOTA Code of Ethics (Correct answer)
- Scope of Practice document
- SI Fidelity Measure Guidelines
Correct answer: AOTA Code of Ethics
The AOTA Code of Ethics is the primary document establishing ethical principles and standards for all OT practitioners.
Question 3: A parent of a child receiving SI therapy asks the OT to write a letter stating their child has 'sensory processing disorder' to qualify for a school accommodation. The OT should:
- Write the letter as requested since it benefits the child
- Accurately describe the child's sensory-related functional limitations without using an unvalidated diagnostic label (Correct answer)
- Refuse all communication with the school
- Ask a physician to sign the letter instead
Correct answer: Accurately describe the child's sensory-related functional limitations without using an unvalidated diagnostic label
Practitioners must communicate accurately about client needs without misrepresenting unvalidated diagnostic categories as confirmed medical diagnoses.
Question 4: An OT working in private practice administers the SIPT without holding valid certification to do so. This practice violates which principle?
- Beneficence only, because the test results may be inaccurate
- Both fidelity and competence standards, as unauthorized test administration compromises validity and client welfare (Correct answer)
- Autonomy, because the client was not told the therapist lacks SIPT certification
- Justice, because the cost of the SIPT is not covered by insurance
Correct answer: Both fidelity and competence standards, as unauthorized test administration compromises validity and client welfare
Administering the SIPT without certification violates competency and fidelity standards because it compromises the integrity and validity of the assessment.
Question 5: A practitioner learns that a sensory gym equipment vendor is offering financial incentives to OTs who recommend their products to clients. Accepting such incentives would most directly violate which ethical principle?
- Veracity (Correct answer)
- Nonmaleficence
- Justice
- Fidelity
Correct answer: Veracity
Accepting vendor incentives that influence clinical recommendations violates veracity (truthfulness and integrity in professional relationships).
Question 6: An OT is treating a child using a sensory diet that was developed by a previous therapist. Before continuing the program, the OT should first:
- Implement the existing program to maintain consistency
- Conduct their own evaluation to validate the sensory diet's clinical appropriateness for the current child (Correct answer)
- Ask the parent if the program has been working without reviewing clinical records
- Consult with the original therapist only if problems arise
Correct answer: Conduct their own evaluation to validate the sensory diet's clinical appropriateness for the current child
Practitioners are professionally and ethically responsible for independently evaluating the appropriateness of any treatment program before continuing it.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of maintaining continuing education in sensory integration for certified practitioners?
- To satisfy state licensure requirements only
- To ensure sustained competence and reflect current evidence-based practice (Correct answer)
- To qualify for higher insurance reimbursement rates
- To maintain membership in a professional association
Correct answer: To ensure sustained competence and reflect current evidence-based practice
Continuing education ensures that practitioners maintain competence and integrate emerging evidence into their clinical practice.
AOTA Ethical & Legal Considerations 3
A sensory integration-certified OT is asked by a school to train aides to independently administer 'heavy work' activities as an SI-based intervention.
The ethical concern is: