NPTE-PT Test Test Professional Responsibilities and Ethics 1

Question 1

A physical therapist receives a gift worth $150 from a grateful patient at the conclusion of a successful course of treatment.
According to the APTA Code of Ethics, what is the MOST appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Decline the gift and explain that accepting gifts of significant value can compromise professional objectivity and create conflicts of interest

Answer

Accept the gift graciously, as refusing it would be culturally insensitive and damage the therapeutic relationship

Answer

Accept the gift only if it is consumable, such as food, and decline non-consumable items

Answer

Report the gift offer to a supervisor before making any decision

Question 2

A physical therapist is asked by an attorney to provide an expert opinion in a legal case involving a patient who was never under the therapist's care. The therapist has no direct knowledge of the patient. What does the APTA Code of Ethics require in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Ensure that any opinion rendered is based on sound professional judgment, accurate information, and falls within the therapist's area of competence

Answer

Refuse to participate entirely, as physical therapists cannot serve as expert witnesses outside of their own patient relationships

Answer

Participate and provide opinions based on the records provided, relying on general professional knowledge

Answer

Provide testimony only if compensated at a standard expert witness rate approved by the state licensing board

Question 3

A physical therapist employed by a private practice is instructed by the practice owner to see each patient for only 15 minutes and delegate the remainder of all sessions to an unlicensed aide. The therapist believes this arrangement is inadequate for safe patient care. What is the MOST ethically appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Document the concern, communicate it to the practice owner, and if unresolved, report to the state licensing board and seek other employment

Answer

Comply with the employer's directive, as employment obligations take precedence over personal clinical preferences

Answer

Immediately resign from the position without taking any further action

Answer

Inform patients privately that they should seek care elsewhere without formally escalating the concern

Question 4

A physical therapist maintains a social media profile and occasionally posts about interesting clinical cases to engage with professional peers. Which practice BEST aligns with HIPAA and the APTA Code of Ethics?

Accepted Answer

Share only de-identified information that could not reasonably be used to re-identify the patient, and avoid details that might identify the patient even indirectly

Answer

Share de-identified case details only if the post is visible solely to confirmed healthcare professional followers

Answer

Never reference any clinical case in any form on social media, even in a purely educational context

Answer

Obtain explicit written patient authorization before sharing any case detail, even if fully de-identified, to ensure complete ethical compliance

Question 5

A physical therapist suspects that a patient is experiencing domestic abuse based on unexplained bruising and inconsistent explanations. The patient explicitly asks the therapist not to report anything. What is the MOST appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Assess mandatory reporting obligations under applicable state law, provide the patient with safety resources, and report if legally required regardless of patient preference

Answer

Honor the patient's autonomy by keeping the information confidential, since the patient is a competent adult who has the right to make their own decisions

Answer

Immediately call law enforcement without informing the patient, to ensure their safety above all else

Answer

Document the observation in the chart only and take no further action unless the patient explicitly asks for help

Question 6

A physical therapist working in a hospital setting is approached by a pharmaceutical company representative who offers a fee to speak at a company-sponsored dinner promoting a specific pain medication. The therapist has no prescriptive authority. What does the APTA Code of Ethics require before accepting this arrangement?

Accepted Answer

Disclose the financial relationship to any audience and ensure that any content presented is accurate, evidence-based, and not misleading

Answer

Decline automatically, because physical therapists are prohibited from any involvement with pharmaceutical marketing activities

Answer

Accept freely, since the therapist cannot prescribe medication and therefore has no conflict of interest

Answer

Obtain approval from the state licensing board before participating in any speaker program