Policy statement: Autonomy

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) believes that physical therapists, as autonomous professionals, should have the freedom to exercise their professional judgment and decision making, wherever they practice, so long as this is within the physical therapist's knowledge, competence and scope of practice.

Physical therapists operate as independent practitioners, as well as members of health service provider teams, and are subject to the ethical principles of WCPT and the codes of ethics and best practice in the country in which they practise. They are able to act as first contact practitioners, and patients/clients may seek direct services without referral from another health care professional.[1] This encompasses health promotion, prevention, examination/assessment, evaluation, interventions/treatments and outcomes assessment. The actions of individual physical therapists are their own responsibility, and their professional decisions cannot be controlled or compromised by employers, members of other professions or other individuals.

In addition to recognising the autonomy of the physical therapist, WCPT’s Description of physical therapy states that ethical principles require a physical therapist to recognise the autonomy of the patient/client or legal guardian in seeking his or her services.[1]

WCPT encourages its member organisations to support and work toward:

• attaining entry level physical therapist professional education requirements that meet WCPT’s guidelines[2]
• recognition by national governments and other professionals of physical therapists as autonomous professionals
• patients/clients having direct access to physical therapists and services that facilitate self-referral
• implementation of procedures that support responsible self-governance of physical therapists[3]

Glossary

Autonomy — is the ability of a reflective practitioner to make independent judgments; open to initiate, terminate, or alter physical therapy intervention.[4]

References

1.   World Confederation for Physical Therapy. Policy statement: Description of physical therapy. London, UK: WCPT; 2011.  (Access date 22nd September 2011).

2.   World Confederation for Physical Therapy. WCPT guideline for physical therapist professional entry level education. London, UK: WCPT; 2011.  (Access date 22nd September 2011)

3.   World Confederation for Physical Therapy. Policy statement: Regulation of the physical therapy profession. London, UK: WCPT; 2011.  (Access date 22nd September 2011)

4.   American Physical Therapy Association. Normative Model of Physical Therapist Professional Education. Washington, USA: APTA; 2004.  (Access date 22 March 2010)