DETERMINING THE BEST CHOICE

WHEN DECISION MAKING IS A FAMILY AFFAIR

REFERRED PAIN?
E L L E N F RA N K E , S C O TT H U M A S O N , C AT E M U R P H Y , L I Z
BLANFORD, AND SARAH WENNING

CASE
Larry: PT
Specializes in issues related to the cervical spine and is
the best of the best in the area

Cheryl: Patient
Fender bender resulting in cervical pain. Approved for PT
from physician

Larry and Cheryl are married

Should Larry treat Cheryl?

REALM
Personal connection with his wife
personal

His insurance policy advises against taking on

family members as patients unless well
documented reasoning can be provided
organizational

Refers friends to his office rather than consulting

and treating at home

INDIVIDUAL PROCESS
Moral Motivation
Considers multiple courses of action

Moral Judgment
Is treating his wife right or wrong?

SITUATION
Dilemma

ETHICS PERSPECTIVES

Virtue Ethics
Duty Ethics
Utilitarianism
Liberalism
Principlism

KANT-DUTY ETHICS
Categorical Imperative- I ought to never act
except in such a way that I can also will that my
maxim should become a universal law.
Actions are right or wrong, regardless of
circumstance
Eliminate variability that comes with emotional,
individual, and cultural differences.

LIBERALISM
Contractualism takes the emotional aspect out of the
scenarioLarry is the best PT in town for cervical spine
treatment, Cheryl needs therapy for her cervical spine,
therefore making a good match for a contract.
Larry is a free man who has the right to treat Cheryl, as he
wants her to get better
Larry can have the negative right to deny PT to Cheryl if it is
not in his best interests as a physical therapist in his town
Cheryl may have the positive right to expect that as her
husband, Larry would treat her for her problems relating to
his expertise of care
Larry and Cheryl would form a contract to lay out the
guidelines of physical therapy treatment

PRINCIPLISM
Autonomy: Patient has right to decide what
should happen
Nonmaleficence: obligation to not inflict harm
intentionally
Beneficence: moral obligation to act for the
benefit of others
Justice: fair, equitable, appropriate treatment in
light of what is due or owed

GROUP CONSENSUS
Larry should treat his wife

REFERENCES
Banja, John D. Managing Ethical Issues and
Dilemmas: Theoretical and Practical Strategies for
Rehabilitation Professionals. Print.