Introduction

Rehabilitation professionals face ethical challenges every day, not as a sign of personal failure, but as systemic features of the environments in which they work. This course examines real-world ethical dilemmas across physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy (pathology), and prosthetics and orthotics. From resource scarcity and competing allegiances to delegation responsibilities and AI integration, it will help you navigate these challenges with greater knowledge, confidence and integrity.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• describe the most frequently reported ethical challenges across rehabilitation professions internationally, and why the majority of these challenges originate at the systemic and organisational level rather than within the individual patient-therapist relationship
• describe the impact of financial pressures, organisational constraints, and professional hierarchies on moral agency and ethical decision-making in rehabilitation practice, including the consequences of moral distress for practitioner wellbeing and workforce retention
• discuss the ethical tensions arising from competing allegiances, including those between client autonomy, colleague loyalty, employer directives, and regulatory mandates

Target audience

This course is aimed at Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy clinicians, students and assistants. Other interested professionals such as athletic trainers, occupational therapists, nurses or medical doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 1.5-2 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 1.6 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

No relevant relationships disclosed by instructor.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.