OTR Professional Ethics & Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An OTR discovers that a colleague is billing for services not rendered. What is the most appropriate first step?
- Ignore it to avoid conflict
- Report directly to the state licensing board immediately
- Address the concern with the colleague or supervisor first per facility policy (Correct answer)
- Document the behavior and wait to see if it continues
Correct answer: Address the concern with the colleague or supervisor first per facility policy
AOTA ethics guidelines recommend addressing concerns through established channels, typically starting with the colleague or supervisor before escalating.
Question 2: Which AOTA ethical principle obligates an OTR to maintain current knowledge and skills?
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Nonmaleficence
- Justice
- Fidelity
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence includes the duty to provide competent care, which requires maintaining up-to-date knowledge and skills.
Question 3: A client asks the OTR to keep a safety concern secret from the treatment team. The OTR should:
- Honor the client's request to preserve autonomy
- Disclose the safety concern to the team despite the client's wishes (Correct answer)
- Document the request and take no further action
- Refer the client to another therapist
Correct answer: Disclose the safety concern to the team despite the client's wishes
Client safety is a paramount concern that overrides confidentiality when there is imminent risk of harm.
Question 4: The principle of 'veracity' in the AOTA Code of Ethics most directly refers to:
- Respecting client decision-making
- Providing truthful, accurate information (Correct answer)
- Treating all clients fairly
- Maintaining loyalty to colleagues
Correct answer: Providing truthful, accurate information
Veracity obligates OT practitioners to provide honest, accurate, and objective information in all professional communications.
Question 5: An OTR is asked by an employer to document services under a different billing code to increase reimbursement. This action would violate which principle?
- Autonomy
- Veracity (Correct answer)
- Fidelity
- Justice
Correct answer: Veracity
Falsifying billing codes is fraudulent documentation and directly violates the principle of veracity (truthfulness).
Question 6: Which body is primarily responsible for establishing and enforcing OT ethical standards at the national level in the US?
- NBCOT
- AOTA (Correct answer)
- State licensing boards
- The Joint Commission
Correct answer: AOTA
AOTA establishes the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, though NBCOT and state boards enforce their own conduct standards.
Question 7: An OTR who accepts a gift of significant monetary value from a client most likely violates which ethical principle?
- Nonmaleficence
- Justice
- Fidelity (Correct answer)
- Autonomy
Correct answer: Fidelity
Fidelity requires maintaining appropriate professional boundaries; accepting significant gifts can compromise the therapeutic relationship and objectivity.
OTR Professional Ethics & Standards 2
An OTR discovers that a colleague is billing for services not rendered.
What is the most appropriate first step?