Ethics for Occupational Therapists
| Overview / Abstract: |
Ethics for Occupational Therapists is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that teaches OTs how to address ethical and moral dilemmas in practice. Ethical issues in occupational therapy can arise in various settings, including practice, research, education, and policy. Occupational therapists are responsible for promoting inclusion, participation, safety, and well-being for all recipients of service. They must also empower all beneficiaries of service to meet their occupational needs. Common ethical dilemmas include ineffective treatment, unethical/incompetent colleagues, priorities in treatment, causing pain and discomfort, treating patients despite refusal, and misleading the patient and confidentiality. These dilemmas require occupational therapists to adhere to the principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Ethical dilemmas in occupational therapy can be a struggle due to competing allegiances to the OT’s values, clients, colleagues, employers, and regulatory bodies. Accordingly, OT’s decisions can have long-range effects professionally and personally, not only for the OT, but for patients, clients, healthcare entities, and society at large. How and why does one decision win out over another? What constitutes the decision-making process? How do decisions impact those involved? OTs are engaged in an “ethic of care,” where activities of daily living are not just a function, but also an expression of values. Helping people maintain their maximum possible functioning is seen in relation to society and the common good of all persons. This is an abstract ideal that must be put into practice in an imperfect world. How does the OT make decisions about what is best for the person when there are difficult choices to make? This course will discuss the common moral and ethical dilemmas that OTs face and is based on the 2025 Code of Ethics of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and research that offers evidence-based practice strategies. Case examples and ethical scenarios are included throughout to assist OTs in applying the principles to practice. Outline Introduction Course #31-65 | 2026 | 51 pages | 20 posttest questions | Mobile-Friendly |
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Expiration |
Feb 17, 2031 |
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Discipline(s) |
Occupational Therapy CE |
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Format |
Online |
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Cost |
39.00 |
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Credits / Hours |
3 |
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Accreditation |
AOTA |
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Presenters / Authors / Faculty |
Bill Asenjo, PhD, CRC, has been a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) and vocational rehabilitation consultant since 1994. He completed his PhD in the University of Iowa's Rehabilitation Counseling program, and received an MS in health science, specializing in rehabilitation counseling, from the University of Florida. He has provided expert testimony in more than 100 hearings, trials and depositions. As a consultant to attorneys in disability-related cases, his reports have garnered glowing testimonials. An internationally published and award-winning freelance writer with fifteen years of experience, his work appears in numerous print and online publications, ranging from medical encyclopedias and health magazines, to trade publications for attorneys and anthologies like Chicken Soup for the Soul. On the way to his PhD, he received a writing award for his dissertation. Disclosure: Financial: No relevant financial relationships exist. Linda Bagby, OTR, received her degree in Occupational Therapy from Eastern Kentucky University. She has more than 20 years of clinical experience in a variety of healthcare settings, including home health, long-term care and five years of work hardening. Her area of specialization is the geriatric population. During her employment in various nursing homes and rehabilitation treatment centers, she has been faced with a number of ethical situations and challenges. Her ability to successfully cope with and overcome these challenges, make her uniquely qualified to write on this topic. Linda lives in Punta Gorda, Florida with her husband and two beautiful teenage daughters. Disclosure: Financial: No relevant financial relationships exist. |
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Keywords / Search Terms |
Professional Development Resources ethics for occupational therapists, ethics for OTs, CE, CEU, Ethics CEU, ethics continuing education, online course |
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