Professional Standards and Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real PCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Standards and Ethics flashcards as text
A physiotherapist working in a rural community is the only rehabilitation provider within 150 km. A patient with whom they have a personal friendship requires physiotherapy. What is the best course of action?
Answer: Treat the patient while documenting the dual relationship and managing boundaries carefully
In rural settings, treating known persons may be unavoidable; the physiotherapist must document the relationship and maintain clear professional boundaries.
According to Canadian physiotherapy ethical standards, which principle requires that patients receive fair access to care without discrimination?
Answer: Justice
Justice requires equitable distribution of care and prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, disability, or socioeconomic status.
A physiotherapist observes that a student they are supervising uses incorrect manual therapy technique that could harm the patient. The therapist should:
Answer: Intervene immediately to protect the patient, then debrief the student
Patient safety always takes precedence; the supervisor must intervene immediately then use the situation as a learning opportunity.
Which document outlines the ethical obligations of physiotherapists in Canada and is issued by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association?
Answer: The Code of Ethics for Physiotherapists
The Canadian Physiotherapy Association's Code of Ethics outlines the ethical principles and obligations guiding physiotherapy practice across Canada.
A patient with dementia is unable to provide informed consent for a physiotherapy procedure. Who should the physiotherapist obtain consent from?
Answer: The patient's substitute decision-maker or legal guardian
When a patient lacks decision-making capacity, the substitute decision-maker or legal guardian is authorized to provide informed consent on their behalf.
A physiotherapist provides treatment that falls outside the evidence base to satisfy a patient's strong preference. Which ethical principle is most at risk?
Answer: Beneficence and non-maleficence
Providing non-evidence-based care risks patient harm and fails to promote their best interest, violating both beneficence and non-maleficence.
A physiotherapist is offered a financial incentive by a pharmaceutical company to recommend their products to patients. This arrangement is best described as:
Answer: An unethical conflict of interest that must be declined or disclosed
Financial incentives tied to product recommendations create conflicts of interest that compromise clinical objectivity and violate professional ethics codes.