Abstract
The principal purposes of the AOTA Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (hereinafter referred to as the Code) are to help protect the public and to reinforce its confidence in the occupational therapy profession rather than to resolve private business, legal, or other disputes for which there are other, more appropriate forums for resolution. The Code is also an aspirational document to guide occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students toward appropriate professional conduct in all aspects of their diverse professional and volunteer roles. It applies to any conduct that may affect the performance of occupational therapy as well as to an individual’s behavior in another capacity that reflects negatively on the reputation of occupational therapy.
The Enforcement Procedures for the AOTA Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (hereinafter referred to as the Enforcement Procedures) have undergone a series of revisions by the Association’s Ethics Commission (EC) since their initial adoption. This public document articulates the procedures followed by the EC as it carries out its duties to enforce the Code. A primary goal of these Enforcement Procedures is to ensure objectivity and fundamental fairness to all individuals who may be parties in an ethics complaint. The Enforcement Procedures help ensure compliance with the Code, which delineates enforceable Principles and Standards of Conduct that apply to Association members.
