Skip to main content

Ethics-1-800x460.png

Ethicists Regina Doherty, OT, OTD, and Ruth Purtilo, PT, PhD, FAPTA, assert that health care professions are moral communities because they are a subgroup of society with a "professional morality [that] embraces moral values, duty, and character traits that do not apply equally or at all to others in society (Doherty, 2016)." Similarly, ethicist Laura Lee "Dolly" Swisher, PT, PhD, FAPTA, points out that there are no easy answers for the "wicked" ethical problems facing our profession and joins Purtilo in advocating for our professional moral community to be proactive in partnering with society (Swisher, 2022).

Log in or create a free account to keep reading.


Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.


You Might Also Like...

Article

Medicare Participation: You Have Options

Jun 25, 2025

First time enrolling in Medicare? Looking to change your participation status? This resource serves as your guide to the two types of Medicare participation

Article

APTA Champions Return of Bill to Expand Access to Pelvic Health Physical Therapy

Jun 24, 2025

APTA and APTA Pelvic Health are advocating to improve access to vital postpartum care, including pelvic floor physical therapy. This persistence is paying

Article

APTA Advocacy Leads to Direct Access for Millions Covered by Aetna

Jun 17, 2025

The Big Picture of Aetna’s Policy Change In response to ongoing advocacy efforts by APTA, Aetna has updated its physical therapy policy to provide unrestricted