Afghan Association for Physical Therapy
CODE OF CONDUCT
First written 2000
Revised 2008 (passed at General Assembly …..)
VISION OF AAPT
The Afghan Association for Physical Therapy strives to serve, improve and develop the physiotherapy profession for benefit of the Afghan people, according to international standards.
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
The AAPT Code of Conduct is based on four basic ethical principles:
- Respect for the rights of the individual
- Respect for ethnicity, religion and language differences
- Respect and responsibility for ones own professional role
- Do no harm against patients, colleagues, the physiotherapy profession or the Association
CODE OF CONDUCT
APTA members are committed to promoting and endorsing the practice of physiotherapy to improve the health status of the community for the common good of the Afghan people. The code of conduct provides guidelines for this, and is the basis for ethical and professional conduct for all physiotherapists. AAPT members are expected to uphold the AAPT Code of Conduct.
1 Physiotherapists shall respect the rights and dignity of all individuals.
- Physiotherapists shall not deny patients services through discrimination on the basis of age, gender, ethnicity, religion or health status.
- Physiotherapists shall give possibilities for privacy.
- Physiotherapists shall respect individual ideas and cultural customs of the patient.
- Physiotherapists shall encourage patient participate in decisions about their treatment.
- Physiotherapists shall listen to and respect patients complaints, and manage these sensitively and appropriately.
- Physiotherapists shall respects the patients right to cease physiotherapy treatment if desired.
- Physiotherapists shall base their relationships with patients on confidence, trust and mutual respect.
- Physiotherapists shall give appropriate, objective, and understandable information about patients conditions and about the proposed physiotherapy intervention, including expected benefits, perceived risks, alternatives, any costs or fees, to enable an informed consent to be given or withheld.
- Where a patient is unable to give effective consent to treatment, consent shall be obtained from an appropriate person acting on behalf of the patient.
2 Physiotherapists shall take responsibility for professional, effective and safe services.
- Physiotherapists shall ensure that their practice is conducted in a safe manner, that contraindications are observed, that safety tests are undertaken and documented, and that equipment used is in excellent working order.
- Physiotherapists shall base their treatment and services on Evidence Based Practice.
- Physiotherapists shall not delegate any activity which requires the skill, knowledge and judgment of a physiotherapist.
- Physiotherapists shall accept responsibility for all treatment provided by others acting under their supervision (physiotherapy aids, assistants, students, family members).
- Physiotherapists, when teaching physiotherapy skills to others, shall not undermine the practice or professional standards of physiotherapy.
- Physiotherapists shall keep a confidential record for every patient to allow for effective evaluation of the patient’s progress and the physiotherapist’s practice.
- Physiotherapists have the right to refuse services to a patient where there are justifiable reasons for doing so, especially when it is not in the best interests of the patient.
- Physiotherapists shall accept responsibility for their actions and work in a careful, honest and accountable manner.
3 Physiotherapists shall strive for standards of excellence in all aspects of physiotherapy practice, education and research.
- Physiotherapists have an individual responsibility for professional development.
- Physiotherapists shall participate in continuing professional development to enhance their skills and to generate new knowledge.
- Physiotherapists shall encourage high quality education in academic and clinical settings.
- Physiotherapists shall be aware of and measure themselves against currently accepted standards of performance.
- Physiotherapists shall guide and mentor physiotherapy students and new graduates when under their supervision.
4 Physiotherapists shall follow professional guidelines in record-keeping, documentation and administration
- Physiotherapists shall respect the confidentiality and security of patient information.
- Physiotherapists shall keep a confidential record for every client which is complete, legible, and understandable and kept in a secure place.
- Patients have the right to confidentiality and this shall encompass all patient information including attendance for treatment.
- Physiotherapists shall ensure that all staff under their supervision also respect patient confidentiality.
- Physiotherapists shall not disclose any information about a patient without the patient’s permission, unless required to do so by law.
5 Physiotherapists shall work with respect and loyalty towards colleagues
- Physiotherapists shall communicate and cooperate appropriately with colleagues to maximize the benefits of physiotherapy services provided.
- Physiotherapists shall offer colleagial support when adequate and necessary.
- Physiotherapists have the right to expect co-operation from their colleagues.
6 Physiotherapists shall cooperate with and respect the competence of other medical and health-care professionals
- Physiotherapists shall communicate and co-operate with colleagues and other health care professionals in the best interests of their patients and the community.
- Patients have the right to be referred to more suitably qualified practitioners whenever that is clinically appropriate.
- Physiotherapists shall respect patient privacy during exchange of information with other health professionals.
7 Physiotherapists shall promote and advertise for the profession in an honest and professional manner
- Physiotherapists will promote the profession by providing honest and accurate information about physiotherapy to patients, other health professionals and the general community.
- Physiotherapists shall at all times act in a manner that brings credit to the profession.
- Physiotherapists shall not slander other physiotherapists or health professionals.
- Behavior, approach and dress should not cause offense to the patient, family members or other health professionals.
- Physiotherapists shall use only titles which correctly describe their professional status or expertise.
- Physiotherapists advertising their services shall not make false or misleading claims or otherwise bring the physiotherapy profession into disrepute.
8 Physiotherapists shall, when and where possible, contribute to the development and implementation of health services in Afghanistan which will enhance the health status of the Afghan people
- The physiotherapy profession shall encourage the innovative development of its scope of practice for health-care services provided such development is based on evidence of efficacy and safety.
- Physiotherapists shall participate in the planning and implementation of services designed to provide optimum health care for the community.
- Physiotherapists shall contribute to public education programs which provide information about the efficacy of physiotherapy intervention.
- Physiotherapists shall strive toward achieving justice for all people in the provision of health care.
9 Physiotherapists shall follow the Articles, regulations and policies of the Afghan Association for Physical Therapy
- Physiotherapists shall respect the regulations of the articles in every aspect of their professional work.
- Physiotherapists shall not misuse their AAPT membership, or use their membership for their own benefit.
- Members of AAPT shall pay their fee on time.
10 Physiotherapists shall know, understand and follow Afghan laws and regulations which are relevant for physiotherapy practice.
- Physiotherapists should follow policies and regulations set by the Ministry of Public Health.
- Physiotherapists should follow educational regulations as relevant for physiotherapy training.
Afghan Association for Physical Therapy
CODE OF CONDUCT
Summary
VISION OF AAPT
The Afghan Association for Physical Therapy strives to serve, improve and develop the physiotherapy profession for benefit of the Afghan people, according to international standards.
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
The AAPT Code of Conduct is based on four basic ethical principles:
- Respect for the rights of the individual
- Respect for ethnicity, religion and language differences
- Respect and responsibility for ones own professional role
- Do no harm against patients, colleagues, the physiotherapy profession or the Association
CODE OF CONDUCT
AAPT members are expected to uphold the AAPT Code of Conduct.
1. Physiotherapists shall respect the rights and dignity of all individuals.
2. Physiotherapists shall take responsibility for professional, effective and safe services.
3. Physiotherapists shall strive for standards of excellence in all aspects of physiotherapy practice, education and research.
4. Physiotherapists shall follow professional guidelines in record-keeping, documentation and administration
- Physiotherapists shall work with respect and loyalty towards colleagues
- Physiotherapists shall cooperate with and respect the competence of other medical and health-care professionals
- Physiotherapists shall promote and advertise for the profession in an honest and professional manner
- Physiotherapists shall, when and where possible, contribute to the development and implementation of health services in Afghanistan which will enhance the health status of the Afghan people
9. Physiotherapists shall follow the Articles, regulations and policies of the Afghan Association for Physical Therapy
10. Physiotherapists shall know, understand and follow Afghan laws and regulations which are relevant for physiotherapy practice.