NPTE-PT NPTE-PT Test Professional Responsibilities and Ethics Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

A physical therapist discovers that a colleague is treating patients while under the influence of alcohol. What is the most appropriate initial course of action?

Accepted Answer

Report the colleague to the state licensing board

Answer

Licensed physical therapists have a mandatory duty to report impaired practitioners to the appropriate licensing authority to protect patient safety.

Question 2

Which ethical principle is MOST directly violated when a physical therapist provides treatment beyond their scope of competence without seeking additional training or referral?

Accepted Answer

Nonmaleficence

Answer

Nonmaleficence, the duty to do no harm, is most directly violated when a therapist practices beyond their competence, as it places patients at risk of injury.

Question 3

A patient requests access to their complete medical record including the physical therapist's personal session notes. Under HIPAA, what is the therapist's obligation?

Accepted Answer

Provide the patient access to their designated record set, which may exclude psychotherapy-equivalent notes

Answer

Under HIPAA, patients have the right to access their designated record set, though certain psychotherapy-equivalent process notes may be excluded from this right.

Question 4

A physical therapist working in a skilled nursing facility notices that the facility administrator is pressuring therapists to bill for services not rendered. What does the APTA Code of Ethics require?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to participate in fraudulent billing and report the activity through appropriate channels

Answer

The APTA Code of Ethics requires physical therapists to maintain integrity in all business practices and report fraudulent billing activities through appropriate legal and institutional channels.

Question 5

In which scenario would a physical therapist be MOST justified in breaching patient confidentiality without the patient's consent?

Accepted Answer

The patient reveals they plan to physically harm a specific individual

Answer

The duty to warn or protect overrides confidentiality when a patient presents a credible, imminent threat of serious harm to an identifiable third party.

NPTE-PT Test Practice Test

NPTE-PT Test Practice Test

NPTE-PT NPTE-PT Test Professional Responsibilities and Ethics Questions and Answers 2