Complexities in Consent: Seeking Permission in Physical Therapy Practice
TL;DR
The spectrum of consent that can apply to the provision of physical therapy services is detail, the spectrum of consent that can apply to the provision of physical therapy services is detailed, best practices in consent for physical therapy are discussed, and concepts are applied to real-world examples of physical therapist and physical therapist assistant practice.
Abstract
The newly-revised American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Code of Ethics explicitly states that it is a standard of conduct for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to obtain ongoing informed consent from patients or clients. Informed consent is a key concept in medical ethics; it is often cited as a manifestation of the foundational principle of autonomy. The previous version of the APTA Code of Ethics did not explicitly name consent, nor informed consent, but discussed the need for physical therapists to provide patients with the necessary information required for them to render a decision about their care. Given the importance placed on informed consent as a standard of practice in the revised Code of Ethics, this article seeks to define informed consent, detail the spectrum of consent that can apply to the provision of physical therapy services, discuss best practices in consent for physical therapy, and apply these concepts to real-world examples of physical therapist and physical therapist assistant practice.