Physical therapy is a profession involving skilled practice of patient care. The primary concern of the PT and PTA is always the safety, well being, and best interest of the patient who must therefore recognize and carry out services consistent with legal rights and personal dignity of the patient.

Accordingly, it is the responsibility of all PTs and PTAs to:

• Communicate effectively to the patient the treatment evaluation process and techniques to be used in any procedures before beginning treatment and anytime during the course of the treatment process.
• Safeguard the confidentiality of information and require written consent from the patient or legally authorized representative prior to releasing information to a third party not involved in the actual care.
• Avoid acts which blatantly disregard a patient’s modesty and neither suggest nor engage in sexual activities with patients under their care.
• Neither use nor participate in the use of any form of communication containing false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, unfair or sensational statement or claim, nor use bribery in any form, nor use false advertising, nor misrepresentation of services or self, nor engage in other unprofessional conduct, including, but not limited to:
• • Inaccurately recorded, falsified, or altered patient records,
  • Falsely representing or misrepresenting facts on an application for employment,
  • Impersonating or acting as a proxy for an applicant in any examination for certification or registration,
  • Impersonating another certified or registered practitioner or permitting another to use his or her license for the purpose of practicing physical therapy or receiving compensation,
  • Providing false or incorrect information regarding the status of licensure.
• Not exploit the patient or client for the financial gain of the licensee or a third party.
• Practice physical therapy with that level of care, skill, and treatment which is recognized by a reasonably prudent similar physical therapy practitioner as being acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances.

Reference

Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B17-6.001