Physical therapy and a public health ethics perspective

Doing things you never imagined: Professional and ethical issues in the U.S. outpatient physical therapy setting during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…These dilemmas posed questions about whether patients had a right to know the COVID-19 status of other patients and staff, have the autonomy of choosing the type or timing of physical therapy during a health crisis, or decide whether to mask in a clinic space at the expense of compromising others' safety. Dawson and Sim (2012) have suggested that public health ethics requires broadening the professional role of physical therapists by “reorientation of physical therapy professional ethics away from an individual to a more social focus.” ( Dawson and Sim, 2012 ) (p144) Their discussion of balancing individual and common goods, moving away from the “privileged” position of individual autonomy, “justifiable paternalism,” and public engagement were in many ways prescient of the experiences of outpatient physical therapists in this study.…”

Professional ethics between the individual and society

“…In their article 'Physical therapy and a public health ethics perspective', 1 Dawson and Sim argue that although physical therapy is traditionally based on the direct professional-patient relationship typical of clinical medicine, the profession can nonetheless play an important part in public health politics and decisionmaking processes. The authors analyze the meaning of public health, the role of ethics in public health and the relationship between clinical and public health ethics, and point to specific areas of public health in which physical therapists have much to offer: setting priorities, health promotion, health policies.…”