Question

A patient with a SCI has been receiving OT services for the past several weeks. The OT who was treating this patient has left the organization. The new OT who is now the patient's primary therapist wants to develop a therapeutic relationship with the patient and she therefore tells him that the previous OT was not a great clinician and he is in better hands with her. What ethical principle is this new OT violating?

Answer 1

The new OT is violating the ethical principle of professional integrity by undermining the previous OT and creating doubt in the patient's mind.

Step-by-step explanation:

The new OT is violating the ethical principle of professional integrity.

When the new OT tells the patient that the previous OT was not a great clinician, she is not only undermining the trust and rapport that the patient had with the previous OT but also creating doubt in the patient's mind about the quality of care received. This violates the ethical principle of professional integrity, which requires healthcare professionals to uphold honesty, trustworthiness, and transparency in their interactions with patients.

Instead, the new OT should focus on building a therapeutic relationship by demonstrating her own competence, expertise, and commitment to the patient's well-being.