COKO Professional Standards and Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A kinesiologist receives a gift worth $200 from a grateful client. According to ethical guidelines, the best course of action is to:
- Accept it as a token of appreciation without concern
- Accept only if it does not influence clinical decision-making, but reflect carefully on the boundary implications (Correct answer)
- Always accept gifts to avoid offending clients
- Immediately report the gift to COKO
Correct answer: Accept only if it does not influence clinical decision-making, but reflect carefully on the boundary implications
COKO guidelines caution that accepting gifts can compromise professional boundaries; practitioners must reflect on potential influence on objectivity.
Question 2: Which of the following represents a dual relationship that could compromise professional ethics?
- Treating a client referred by another health professional
- Providing kinesiology services to a personal friend (Correct answer)
- Working alongside a physiotherapist in the same clinic
- Offering group fitness classes to the public
Correct answer: Providing kinesiology services to a personal friend
Providing services to personal friends creates a dual relationship that can blur professional boundaries and compromise objectivity.
Question 3: A Registered Kinesiologist suspects a vulnerable elderly client is experiencing financial abuse at home. Under the Regulated Health Professions Act, the most appropriate action is to:
- Do nothing as it is outside the scope of kinesiology
- Contact the client's bank directly
- Report suspicions to appropriate authorities such as Adult Protective Services (Correct answer)
- Confront the suspected abuser in person
Correct answer: Report suspicions to appropriate authorities such as Adult Protective Services
Health professionals have a duty to report suspected abuse of vulnerable adults to the appropriate protective authorities.
Question 4: The principle of 'non-maleficence' in kinesiology practice means:
- Actively promoting a client's wellbeing at all times
- Avoiding actions that cause unnecessary harm to clients (Correct answer)
- Treating all clients with equal access to services
- Respecting a client's right to make their own decisions
Correct answer: Avoiding actions that cause unnecessary harm to clients
Non-maleficence obligates practitioners to avoid causing harm, which underpins safe clinical practice.
Question 5: A kinesiologist wishes to use a client's anonymized case as a teaching example. Which step is MOST critical?
- Anonymization alone is sufficient — no further steps needed
- Obtain the client's written consent even if all identifiers are removed (Correct answer)
- Use only cases from more than five years ago
- Get verbal permission from the clinic manager
Correct answer: Obtain the client's written consent even if all identifiers are removed
Even with anonymization, obtaining written informed consent from the client is best practice and respects client autonomy.
Question 6: When documenting client progress notes, a Registered Kinesiologist should ensure records are:
- Written in personal shorthand for efficiency
- Objective, accurate, timely, and securely stored (Correct answer)
- Accessible to all clinic staff without restriction
- Shared with the client's employer automatically
Correct answer: Objective, accurate, timely, and securely stored
Professional standards require that client records be objective, accurate, timely, and protected under PHIPA.
Question 7: Under COKO's continuing education requirements, what is the purpose of mandatory professional development?
- To increase billing rates for services
- To ensure practitioners maintain and enhance competence throughout their career (Correct answer)
- To satisfy employer performance review requirements
- To accumulate credentials for marketing purposes
Correct answer: To ensure practitioners maintain and enhance competence throughout their career
COKO requires ongoing professional development to ensure that Registered Kinesiologists maintain the competence needed to provide safe, effective care.
COKO Professional Standards and Ethics 3
A kinesiologist receives a gift worth $200 from a grateful client.
According to ethical guidelines, the best course of action is to: