Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
All licensed occupational therapists or occupational therapy
assistants shall comply with the standards of professional conduct set forth in
this Section. Any violation of these conduct rules may be considered unethical,
unauthorized or unprofessional conduct. The Division may suspend or revoke a
license, refuse to issue or renew a license, or take other disciplinary action,
based upon the finding of "unethical, unauthorized or unprofessional conduct"
within the meaning of Section 19 of the Act.
a) Individuals licensed under the Act shall
be required, when signing official patient records, to designate licensure by
including the notation OT/L (Occupational Therapist, Licensed) or OTR/L
(Occupational Therapist, Registered/Licensed) or COTA/L (Certified Occupational
Therapy Assistant/Licensed) after the licensee's signature.
b) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
respect the rights of the recipients of their services.
1) Occupational therapy practitioners should
act to prevent and eliminate discrimination against any person or group on the
basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin,
marital status, political belief, mental or physical handicap, or any other
preference or personal characteristic, condition or status.
2) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
avoid those relationships or activities that interfere with professional
judgment and objectivity. Occupational therapy practitioners shall not have
relationships that exploit the recipient of services sexually, physically,
emotionally, financially, socially or in any other manner.
3) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
strive to ensure that fees are fair, reasonable and commensurate with the
service performed and are set with due regard for the service recipient's
ability to pay.
4) Occupational
therapy practitioners shall collaborate with service recipients or their
surrogates in determining goals and priorities throughout the intervention
process.
5) Occupational therapy
practitioners shall fully inform the service recipients of the nature, risks
and potential outcomes of any interventions.
6) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
obtain informed consent from subjects involved in research activities
indicating they have been fully advised of the potential risks and
outcomes.
7) Occupational therapy
practitioners shall respect the individual's right to refuse professional
services or involvement in research or educational activities.
8) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
protect the confidential nature of information gained from educational,
practice and research activities.
c) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
achieve and continually maintain high standards of competence.
1) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
take responsibility for maintaining competence by participating in professional
development and educational activities.
2) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
perform their duties on the basis of accurate and current
information.
3) Occupational
therapy practitioners shall protect service recipients by ensuring that duties
assumed by or assigned to other occupational therapy personnel are commensurate
with their qualifications and experience.
4) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
provide appropriate supervision to consult with other service providers when
additional knowledge and expertise are required.
5) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
refer recipients to other service providers or consult with other service
providers when additional knowledge and expertise are required.
d) Occupational therapy
practitioners shall comply with laws and rules in relation to the profession of
occupational therapy.
1) Occupational therapy
practitioners shall understand and abide by local, State and federal laws and
institutional rules.
2)
Occupational therapy practitioners shall require those they supervise in
occupational therapy activities to adhere to the professional conduct rules
established in this Part.
3)
Occupational therapy practitioners shall accurately record and report all
information related to professional activities.
e) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
provide accurate information about occupational therapy services.
1) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
accurately represent their qualifications, education, experience, training and
competence.
2) Occupational therapy
practitioners shall disclose to recipients any affiliations that may pose a
conflict of interest.
3)
Occupational therapy practitioners shall refrain from using or participating in
the use of any form of communication that contains false, fraudulent,
deceptive, or unfair statements or claims.
f) Occupational therapy practitioners shall
treat colleagues and other professionals with fairness, discretion and
integrity.
1) Occupational therapy
practitioners shall safeguard confidential information about colleagues and
staff.
2) Occupational therapy
practitioners shall accurately represent the qualifications, views,
contributions and findings of colleagues.
g) Pursuant to Section 19(8) of the Act, the
Division incorporates by reference the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics of
the American Occupational Therapy Association, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Ste. 200,
Bethesda, Maryland 20814-3489, April 2015, with no later amendments or
editions.
