Page Eight P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y iiV j9 5 8 . W O R LD CONFEDERATION FOR PHYSICAL T H ER A PY Ethical Principles for Physical Therapists The need for physical therapy is universal. The service o f the physical th era p ist is, therefore, unrestrict by considerations o f nationality, race creed, colour, politics or social sta tu s. The activities and relationships o f physical therapists must vary widely i n the many cou n tries and spheres in which they are pursued and each national organisation must be free to make its own detailed code o f ethics to which it may require its members to conform . H eat and Exercise— Continued fr o m Page 7. PA RT II. The second m ethod o f treatm ent favoured for gynae­ cological conditions is th at o f Exercise— here again divided into breathing exercises, assisted, free and resisted exercises. 1. Breathing Exercises. Breathing exercises are given as a prophylactic measure against chest com plaints following abdom inal operations. In the B antu respiratory troubles, particularly after C aesarean Section, seem to arise very quickly, and pre- and po st­ operative breathing exercises, together with leg exercises for the prevention o f thrombosis, are o f definite value. If, in spite o f these exercises, atelectasis occurs th e use o f a vibrator and back clapping'w ill loosen secretions and prom ote healthier action o f the lungs. 2. Assisted exercises. In the treatm ent o f post-natal dropped foot, -w hich is known by v a rio u s . names, from “ obstetrical palsy” to “ traum atic neuritis o f the puerperium ,” -assisted exercises are used, following electrical stim ulation by the current m ost suited to the condition. (In a very slight case, surging faradism will be tolerated, but in a bad case one o f the progressive currents will be required.) The B antu patient on the whole has a sm aller pelvis, from the obstetric capacity point o f view, than the E uropean. Consequently the pressure effect o f the engaging h ead is m ore severe on the large lum bo-sacral nerve trunks which cross the alae o f the sacrum. D am age to these nerve trunks, which form p a rt o f the great sciatic nerve, account fo r the comparatively large num ber o f dropped foot cases seen in N on-E uropean hospital practise. 3. Free exercises. These include the well known ante- and p o st-n atal exercises about which so much has already been w ritten. D ysm enorrhoea is greatly im proved by free exercises. In similar cases am ong E uropean women ballet lessons have proved helpful. W omen suffering from this disability enjoy “free exercises.’’served in this fashion. 4. Resisted exercises. The use o f Kegels perineom eter can be described as a “ resisted exercise.” Inserted vaginally it is used at E denvale with marked success in causes o f cystocele, rectocele a n d p ro ­ lapse; and, in conjunction with faradism , in cases o f stress incontinence, a lax pelvic floor, or for general to n in g o f the levator ani in elderly hysterectomy cases. Inserted rectally it can be used to im prove an o -rectal tone and continence after cancer operations, w here the removal o f the bladder, uterus and vagina has becom e necessary. In conclusion it can be truthfully said th a t with accurate diagnosis and well controlled therapy, great im p ro v em en t in all types o f gynaecological cases is possible by th e use o f heat and exercises. The following general p rin c ip le s , to which all Memho O rgam satiops of the W o r l d C onfederation for PhvsiSi T herapy have declared th eir ad h eren ce, will serve as a euid to n ational organisations i n building up their individnJi Code o f Ethics: - al 1. Physical Therapists re c o g n is e not only the responsi bilities but also the lim ita tio n s o f their professional functions. They th e r e f o r e only treat those patients referred to them by a reg istered medical practitioner 2. Physical T herapists c a r r y out with loyalty and the utm ost skill any p h y s ic a l treatm ent prescribed by a registered medical p ra c titio n e r which is aimed at restoring, improving o r m aintaining the mental and physical fitness of the p a tie n t. ' 3. Physical Therapists m a in ta in at all times the highest • standards o f know ledge a n d skill. -4. Physical T herapists' r e s p e c t the culture and religious beliefs o f their patients a n d associates. 5. Physical Therapists c o -o p e ra te loyally with their ■ physical therapy co lleag u es and with members of allied health professions a n d they sustain the confidence o f the patient in all m e m b e rs o f the health team. 6. Physical Therapists, h o l d in confidence all persona] inform ation entrusted t o them and will nor discuss a p atien t’s affairs with o th e r s than those responsible for the patient’s care. 7. Physical Therapists reco g n ise that failure of a colleague to conform to the e th ic a l principles o f the profession is detrim ental to the p a ti e n t and therefore such conducil should be reported to t h e proper authority. Unethical conduct should, how ever, never be reported in the presence o f patients o r associates. 8. Physical T h erap ists' s h a r e responsibility with other citizens and members o f o ther professions in meeting the needs o f the public i n m atters o f health, and should participate in all governm ental and voluntary efforts to meet those needs. 9. Physical Therapists do n o t perm it their names to be used in connection with th e . advertisem ent of products or with any other form o f self-advertisement except as expressly authorised b y the Code o f Ethics of their national association. 10. Physical Therapists believe th at ju st remuneration for their services should b e received, but they may accept only such com pensation o r professional fee as the contract, actual or im plied, provides. 11. Physical Therapists a d h e re at all times to s t a n d a r d s of professional and p erso n al ethics which reflect credit upon the profession. R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. )