Creating an Inclusive Code of Ethics in Occupational Therapy

          I was wondering how occupational therapists could create a list of ethical values that we could all agree on that were also necessary for the practice of our profession. If we could, then we could use these values to start from scratch and create a new AOTA Code of Ethics that is free of politically divisive concepts such as social justice.

          The basic question to ask, I think, would be: What values underlie the effective and empathetic practice of a health profession? If we stick to that question, I am sure that we would find much common ground.

          First, I think we would all agree that we would need to express concern for patients’ safety and well-being, making sure we treat them with respect and dignity. Do you think anyone would disagree with that? Does anyone think this not a fundamental value in providing effective and empathetic therapy services?

          Additionally, we would also want to emphasize that we must refrain from actions that could harm a patient. In other words, it’s not just that we want to work for the patient’s well-being, we want to be aware of behaviors that may harm a patient. So (1) we don’t want to be on mind altering drugs or alcohol when treating them, (2) we should be aware of our biases so that they do not get in the way of treatment, and (3) we want to be aware that developing certain relationships with patients, such as a romantic relationship during treatment, may result in exploiting a patient’s vulnerability. Is anyone against this value?

          Third, I think patients should understand that we respect their decisions and goals for therapy and that we will keep their information private.

          Fourth: [leave blank - see below]

          Fifth, we should follow the law. We should obey laws even if when we disagree with many of those laws. Let’s focus on doing things that are legal. If there are laws we disagree with, we can work to change them. But let’s not have lawlessness.

          Sixth, I think we should always tell the truth. All professionals should be committed to truth-telling. Patients and colleagues and other professionals should know that we as a profession are committed to truth-telling. That is a fundamental part of effective patient care.

          And seventh, professionals should treat each other with respect. Proper patient care requires interaction among professionals in various ways such as the teacher-student relationship or at the level of co-workers where some have more knowledge than others on certain matters. And so, treating others with respect becomes a fundamental part of patient care because it is one of the values that functions to promote the transmission of knowledge.

          What I have just described without naming them are all the six principles in the 2010 AOTA Code of Ethics when Principle 4, social justice is excluded.

                These six principles are:

1 Beneficence

2 Maleficence

3 Autonomy and Confidentiality

5 Procedural Justice

6 Veracity

7 Fidelity

          These are the perfect foundation for a non-discriminatory, inclusive Code of Ethics that promote the effective and empathetic practice of occupational therapy. We do not have to start from scratch, but merely remove the divisive and controversial social justice requirement and we would have a Code of Ethics that is valuable to all members.

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