Ethics and Professional Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real NBCOT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics and Professional Practice flashcards as text
An OT discovers a colleague is billing for services not rendered. What is the MOST appropriate first action?
Answer: Document the observation and report through the facility's compliance chain
The AOTA Code of Ethics requires OTs to address unethical conduct, and the appropriate first step is typically internal reporting through proper compliance channels while documenting the concern.
Which AOTA ethical principle obligates an OT to keep client information confidential?
Answer: Fidelity
Fidelity encompasses the duty to be loyal and keep commitments, including protecting confidential information shared within the therapeutic relationship.
A client with cognitive impairment wants to discharge home alone against medical advice. How should the OT respond?
Answer: Conduct a thorough capacity assessment and involve the care team and family as appropriate
The OT must assess decision-making capacity before overriding autonomy, and should engage the interdisciplinary team and appropriate surrogates when capacity is in question.
An OT is asked by an employer to provide telehealth services to clients in a state where the OT is not licensed. What should the OT do?
Answer: Decline until proper licensure in that state is obtained
Occupational therapy practice, including telehealth, is regulated by individual state licensure laws, and practicing without a valid license in the client's state is illegal and unethical.
Which scenario BEST illustrates the ethical principle of justice in occupational therapy?
Answer: Advocating for equitable access to OT services for underserved populations
Justice in the AOTA Code of Ethics includes advocating for fair and equitable access to occupational therapy services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations.
An OT working in a school setting is approached by a parent who asks for the child's evaluation results. The child is 15 years old. What governs this situation?
Answer: FERPA, which gives parents access rights to educational records for minor students
In educational settings, FERPA governs student records, and parents generally retain rights to access educational records for students under 18.
An OT receives a gift basket from a grateful client's family at the end of treatment. What is the MOST ethically sound response?
Answer: Decline and explain the professional boundaries around accepting gifts
The AOTA Code of Ethics cautions against accepting gifts that could create a conflict of interest or compromise the therapeutic relationship; declining while explaining professional boundaries is most appropriate.