Ethics

            As a future occupational therapy practitioner, it is imperative to abide by the AOTA Code of Ethics. Providing the best, safe, and fair treatment to our clients is at the forefront of our profession.

            The AOTA Code of Ethics has 6 principles that should be followed and that can guide therapists when they face a situation involving ethics. These principles include: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice, veracity, and fidelity (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2015). Ethical distress and dilemmas are similar yet different and can interfere with upholding these principles. Ethical distress deals with day-to-day problems in which the person knows the right thing to do, but they are unable to follow through with it due to other obstacles (Canadian Nurses Association, 2003). An example of ethical distress would be gossiping. If on fieldwork I heard several of the OTs participate in gossip about clients, this would cause me ethical distress. I would choose to not participate in or listen to the gossip and even change the subject if possible. On the other hand, an ethical dilemma is where there is a clear violation of the code of ethics.  An example of an ethical dilemma would be noticing that an OT student at the same fieldwork site as you listed their credentials as OTR instead of OTS. You would have to make the ethical decision to confront them about this issue and inform the correct personnel. The principle being violated would be veracity.

            On level 1 & II fieldworks, we are evaluated on our performance and ethical decision-making. One of the first standards that we are required to meet is obeying the code of ethics. This means following and respecting all 6 principles listed above. Remaining confidential, using our best judgment for safety, knowing when to say when/call for help, billing/documenting, and supervising others are all tasks that need to be performed as a level II fieldwork student. It will be important to know the standards ahead of time to prevent an ethical dilemma from happening.

References

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2015). Occupational therapy code of ethics. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(3), 6913410030. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.696S03

Canadian Nurses Association.(2003). Ethical distress in health care environments. Ethics in Practice for Registered Nurses, 1480-9990. Retrieved from https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/ethics_pract_ethical_distress_oct_2003_e.pdf?la=en

Flick, J. (2017). Conflict, Ethics, & Legal….Oh My! [Word Document]. Retrieved from www.blackboard.uthsc.edu