A physical therapist (PT), physical therapist assistant (PTA), and all other medical professionals in the United States have an ethical standard and professional mannerism to adhere to. In the variety of different settings that one can provide physical therapy services in, the PT’s, PTA’s and students can be subject to an array of ethical parameters. When these parameters are abused, ones professional as well as personal ethical standards come in to question.
A young lady, Pam, in her early twenties, received her physical therapist assistant associates degree and then obtained employment at an assisted living health care facility for the elderly. She has been employed with this facility for about six months and now has a somewhat stable patient list to provide therapy exercises for, on a regular basis. One of her patients is a gentlemen, Bob, age sixty-five, which had to have a hip replacement surgery that led him to being in this facility. This facility that best meets his needs, happens to be over an hour from his home. His wife is no longer living, and his two children have their own children to tend to. Therefore, it is very seldom that he has a visitor. Bob is a kind but blunt and outspoken man that enjoys being the jokester of the facility, especially in front of his therapist, Pam. Pam, being a single mother of three, enjoys his entertaining conversations as well.
Pam maintained her profession manner in compliance with the rules of the facility and professional ethical standards for some time. As the time went by, coworkers started to notice the conversations became lengthy, more personal, and even flirtatious. On one occasion, one of Pam’s coworkers, Cindi, overheard Bob offering Pam money to repair her car. Cindi contemplated on sharing this information with their supervisor, but decided to discuss it with Pam first.
Cindi was able to remind Pam of her professional and ethical standards they were to maintain. Pam realizes that in her financially stressful situation she has allowed the patient/provider relationship with Bob to go farther than just professional.