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 receives a subpoena requesting patient records for a legal proceeding. Before releasing records, the therapist should:
Answer: Consult with legal counsel and verify the subpoena's validity before releasing records
Even with a subpoena, physiotherapists should verify its validity and consult legal counsel, as not all subpoenas legally compel record release without patient consent.
What does 'scope of practice' mean for a Canadian physiotherapist?
Answer: The range of activities they are educated, competent, and authorized to perform
Scope of practice encompasses all activities a physiotherapist is trained, competent, and legally authorized to perform within their jurisdiction.
A physiotherapist suspects a patient is a victim of domestic abuse. The patient has not disclosed this and asks the therapist to keep all information confidential. The therapist should:
Answer: Document observations, provide resources to the patient, and report if there is an imminent safety risk per provincial law
Physiotherapists must balance confidentiality with mandatory reporting obligations when there is imminent risk of serious harm, following provincial legislation.
Which of the following actions best demonstrates the ethical principle of veracity in physiotherapy?
Answer: Honestly communicating the risks, benefits, and likely outcomes of treatment
Veracity requires honest, transparent communication with patients about all relevant aspects of their care, including unfavorable information.
A physiotherapy clinic owner instructs staff to bill for services not rendered to increase revenue. A staff physiotherapist who complies with this instruction is:
Answer: Personally liable for participating in fraudulent billing practices
Each physiotherapist is individually accountable for fraudulent billing regardless of employer directives; professional obligations supersede employer instructions.
A physiotherapist feels they may no longer be competent to treat a highly specialized patient population due to a gap in their continuing education. The most ethical response is to:
Answer: Decline to treat until competence is re-established through education or supervision
Practicing beyond one's current competence level risks patient harm and violates professional standards; addressing the competence gap before treating is required.
A patient requests a copy of their physiotherapy records. According to Canadian privacy legislation, the physiotherapist must:
Answer: Provide access within a reasonable timeframe, usually 30 days, with limited exceptions
Under PIPEDA and provincial privacy laws, patients have the right to access their records within approximately 30 days, with narrow exceptions such as threat to another's safety.