Ethical competence is a foundational requirement for all medical professionals, not an optional add-on to clinical skill. Understanding and applying ethical principles—such as patient autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, beneficence, and professional boundaries—is essential to delivering safe, respectful, and legally compliant care. Regulatory boards and professional organizations require clinicians to demonstrate ongoing ethics education to maintain licensure and protect the public. In daily practice, ethical decision-making guides clinicians through complex situations where clinical judgment, patient rights, institutional policies, and legal obligations intersect. A strong grasp of ethical requirements not only safeguards patients but also protects practitioners, their licenses, and the profession’s integrity.
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References
Bertoni G, Manzati SP, Pagani F, Testa M, Battista S. Ethical and Bioethical Issues in Physical Therapy: A Systematic Scoping Review. Phys Ther. 2026 Feb 2:pzag011. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzag011. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41626749.
American Physical Therapy Association. Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist. APTA; 2026.
