PT773 Legal and Ethical Issues for Physical Therapists

This course provides the PT clinical doctoral learner with foundational information about legal, ethical, and administrative decision-making processes that physical therapists often face in clinical practice. Specific topics include medical malpractice, employment law, the legal aspects of documentation, informed consent, sexual conduct and sexual harassment, professional responsibility, preparation for a deposition, and managed-care issues. Utilizing theoretical frameworks, case-based decision-making situations are presented. Analysis and application of the ethical/legal responsibilities of the PT as an autonomous practitioner are covered in-depth. (1)