062-4 Wyo. Code R. §§ 4-3 - Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct includes conforming to the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing physical therapy practice. Conduct may be considered unethical regardless of whether or not actual injury to a patient occurred. Failure to comply with paragraphs (a) to (k) of this rule may be grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to W.S. 33-25-111.

(a) A license or certificate holder shall adhere to the standards of ethical practice by practicing in a manner that is moral and honorable. A license or certificate holder may be disciplined for violating any provision contained herein.

(b) A license or certificate holder shall adhere to the minimal standards of acceptable prevailing practice. Failure to adhere to minimal standards of practice, whether or not actual injury to a patient occurred, includes, but is not limited to:

(i) Failing to assess and evaluate a patient's status;

(ii) Performing or attempting to perform techniques, procedures, or both in which the license or certificate holder is untrained by education or experience;

(iii) Delegating physical therapy functions or responsibilities to an individual lacking the ability or knowledge to perform the function or responsibility in question;

(iv) Causing, or permitting another person to cause, physical or emotional injury to the patient, or depriving the patient of their dignity;

(v) Providing treatment interventions that are not warranted by the patient's condition or continuing treatment beyond the point of reasonable benefit to the patient;

(vi) Providing substandard care as a physical therapist assistant by exceeding the authority to perform components of physical therapy interventions selected by the supervising physical therapist or through a deliberate or negligent act or failure to act, whether or not actual injury to any person occurred;

(vii) Abandoning the patient by inappropriately terminating the patient practitioner relationship by the licensee.

(c) A license or certificate holder shall not engage in conduct that constitutes harassment or verbal or physical abuse of, or unlawful discrimination against, patient's.

(d) A license or certificate holder shall not engage in any sexual relationship or conduct, including dating, with any patient, or engage in any conduct that may reasonably be interpreted by the patient to be sexual, whether consensual or nonconsensual, while a therapist-patient relationship exists.

(i) A license or certificate holder shall not intentionally expose or view a completely or partially disrobed patient in the course of treatment if the exposure of viewing is not related to the patient diagnosis or treatment under current practice standards.

(ii) A license or certificate holder shall not engage in a conversation with a patient that is sexually explicit and unrelated to the physical therapy plan of care.

(e) A license or certificate holder shall not engage in sexual harassment of patient's. Sexual Harassment includes, but is not limited to, making sexual advances, requesting sexual favors, and engaging in other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that results in:

(i) Withholding physical therapy services to a patient;

(ii) Creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for the patient; or

(iii) Interfering with the patient's ability to recover.

(f) A license or certificate holder shall not falsify, alter, or destroy patient/client records, medical records, or billing records without authorization, or fail to maintain accurate patient or billing records.

(g) A license or certificate holder shall not practice physical therapy while the ability to practice is impaired by alcohol, controlled substances, narcotic drugs, physical disability, mental disability, or emotional disability. If a license or certificate holder's ability to practice is in question, the license or certificate holder shall submit to a physical or mental examination or drug/alcohol screen as requested by the Board to determine the applicant's or licensee's qualifications to practice physical therapy.

(h) A license or certificate holder shall not obtain, attempt to obtain, or deliver medications through means of misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, and/or subterfuge.

(i) A licensee shall transfer the continuum of care of the patient, as appropriate, to another health care provider in the event of elective termination of physical therapy services by the licensee.

(j) A license or certificate holder shall not aid, abet, authorize, condone, or allow the practice of physical therapy by any person not legally authorized to provide services.

(k) A license or certificate holder shall not permit another person to use an individual's wall certificate, pocket identification care, or license/certificate number for any illegal purpose.

Notes

062-4 Wyo. Code R. §§ 4-3

Adopted, Eff. 5/12/2015.