Code of Ethics
Furthermore inspiration has come from:
Hodge KP. Character building in sport: fact or fiction? New Zealand Journal of Sports Medicine 17(2):23-25, 1989.
Code of Ethics. Sports Medicine Australia.
Principles and Ethical Guidelines of Health Care for Sports Medicine. International Olympic Committee.
Code of Ethics. The American College of Sports Medicine.
1. Physical Therapy Ethics in General
The same ethical principles that apply to the practice of physical therapy shall apply to sports medicine. The main duties of a physical therapist include (extract WCPT):
- respect the rights and dignity of all individuals
- comply with the laws and regulations governing the practice of physical therapy in the country in which they practice
- accept responsibility for the exercise of sound judgment provide honest, competent and accountable professional services
- provide quality services
- receive a just and fair level of remuneration for their services
- provide accurate information to patients/clients, to other agencies and the community
- about physical therapy and the services physical therapists provide contribute to the planning and development of services which address the health need of the community
And for Sport Physical Therapists:
Always make the health of the athlete a priority.
Never do harm.
Never impose your authority in a way that impinges on the individual right of the athlete to make his/her own decisions
2. Ethics in Sports Physical Therapy
Physical Therapists who care for athletes of all ages have an ethical obligation to understand the specific physical, mental and emotional demands of physical activity, exercise and sports training.
A different relationship exists between sports physical therapists, their employers, official sports organization, professional colleagues and the athletes. In sports physical therapy there is also a link between the pathologic concern and specific recreational and professional activity.
An athletic injury has a direct and immediate impact on the participation in this activity that may have psychological and financial implications. The most obvious difference between sports physical therapy and other aspects of physical therapy is that the athletes treated are generally healthy.
3. Special ethical issues in Sports Physical Therapy
The physical therapist's duty to the athlete must be his/her first concern and contractual and other responsibilities are of secondary importance. A physical therapy decision must be taken honestly and conscientiously.
A basic ethical principle in health care is that of respect for autonomy. An essential component of autonomy is knowledge. Failure to obtain informed consent is to undermine the athlete's autonomy. Similarly, failure to give them necessary information violates the right of the athlete to make autonomous choices. Truthfulness is important in health care ethics. The overriding ethical concern is to provide information to the best of one's ability that is necessary for the patient to decide and act autonomously.
The highest respect will always be maintained for human life and well-being. A mere motive of profit shall never be permitted to be an influence in conducting sports physical therapy practice or functions.
4. The Athlete/Sports physical Therapist Relationship
All athletes are equal and the physical therapist shall not allow consideration of religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing to intervene between his/her duty and the athlete.
The basis of the relationship between the physical therapist and the athlete should be that of absolute confidence and mutual respect. The athlete can expect a physical therapist to exercise professional skill at all times. Advice given and action taken should always be in the athlete's best interest.
The athlete's right to privacy must be protected.
The regulations regarding medical records in health care and treatment shall also be applied in the field of sports physical therapy. The sports physical therapist should maintain a complete and accurate record of the patient.
In view of the strong public and media interest in the health of athletes, the physical therapist should decide with the athlete what information can be released for public distribution.
When serving as a team physical therapist, the sports physical therapist assumes the responsibility to athletes as well as team administrators and coaches. It is essential that each athlete is informed of that responsibility and authorizes disclosure of otherwise confidential medical information, but solely to the specific responsible persons and for the expressed purpose of determining the fitness of the athlete for participation.
The sports physical therapist will inform the athlete about the treatment and the possible consequences in an understandable way and proceed to request his or her permission for the treatment.
The team physical therapist will explain to the individual athlete that he or she is free to consult another physical therapist.
5. Training and Competition
Sports physical therapists should oppose training and practices and competition rules as they may jeopardize the health of the athlete. In general, the physical therapist shall obtain knowledge of the specific and mental demands made of athletes when they participate in sport activities. Relevant aspects in these respects include expertise, effectiveness and efficiency, and safety.
If the athletes concerned are children or growing individuals, the physical therapist must take into consideration the special risks that the sport in questions may represent to persons who have not yet reached physical or psychological maturity. When the sports participant is a growing individual, the sports physical therapist must ensure that the training and competition are appropriate for the state of growth and development.
The physical therapist shall contribute to the spreading of information or the special conditions that pertain to young people training and competing. It is vital that this information also reaches the young athletes, parents, guardians, and trainers.
6. Education
Sports physical therapists should participate in continuing education courses to improve and maintain the knowledge and skills that will allow them to provide optimal advice and care to their patient athletes. Knowledge should be shared with colleagues in the field.
7. Health Promotion
Sports physical therapists are obligated to educate people of all ages about the health benefits of physical activity, exercise and the prevention of sports injuries.
8. Injuries and Athletes
It is the responsibility of the sports physical therapist to advise whether the injured athletes should continue training or participate in competition. The outcome of the competition or the coaches should not influence the decision, but solely the possible risks and consequences to the health of the athlete.
If the physical therapist considers that a certain sport entails major risks she or he should try to eliminate the risk by exerting pressure on the athletes as well as on the relevant decision makers.
Injury prevention should receive the highest priority.
When supported by scientific research, a detailed exercise prescription should be part of the therapeutic plan for an athlete recovering from injury or disease.
9. Relationships with other Professionals
The sports physical therapist should work in collaboration with professionals of other disciplines. The sports physical therapist should cooperate with sports physicians, psychologists, sport scientists, biomechanics, physiologists, and others relevant for the athlete´s health. The sports physical therapist has a responsibility for the health and well-being of the athlete and should therefore coordinate the respective roles of these professionals and those of appropriate medical specialists in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of disease and injury. The concept of interdisciplinary team work is fundamental to the practice of sports physical therapists.
A sports physical therapist should refrain from publicly criticizing fellow professionals who are involved in the treatment of athletes.
A sports physical therapist should behave in relation to colleagues and coworkers as she/he would like them to behave towards him.
When a sports physical therapist recognizes that the athlete's problems are beyond her/his level of expertise, it beholds him to advise the athlete of other persons with the necessary expertise and refer the athlete to such appropriate persons for assistance.
10. Relations to Officials, Clubs etc
At a sport venue, it is the responsibility of the sports physical therapist to advise when an injured athlete can participate in or return to an event or game. The physical therapist should not delegate this advice. In all cases, priority must be given to the athlete's health and safety. The outcome of the competition must never influence such advices and decisions.
To enable the sports physical therapist to undertake this ethical obligation the sports physical therapist must insist on professional autonomy and responsibility for all sports physical advices concerning the health, safety and legitimate interest of the athlete. No third party should influence this.
No information about an athlete may be given to a third party without the consent of the athlete.
11. Doping
The sports physical therapist should oppose and in practice refrain from using methods to improve performance artificially such as those prohibited by the IOC.
The physical therapists have forcefully opposed the use of methods that are not in accordance with medical ethics or scientifically proven experience. Thus, it is contrary to medical ethics to condone doping in any form. Neither may the physical therapist in anyway mask pain in order to enable the athlete's return to practicing the sport if there is any risk of aggravating the injury.
12. Research
Research should be conducted following the ethical principles accepted for research in animals and human subjects. Research should never be conducted in a manner which may injure athletes or jeopardize their athletic performance