ILLEGAL & MALPRACTICE IN

PHYSICAL THERAPY
Dr. Zaffar Junejo
PHYSICAL THERAPIST

 Physical therapy and rehabilitation are used to treat

patients suffering from illness, disease or injury.
 An experienced physical therapist (PT) can improve
mobility, strength, flexibility, coordination, endurance,
and even reduce pain.
 The main objective of physical therapy is to restore,
maintain, or promote optimal physical function.
 Physicians and physical therapists create individualized
therapy plans to address each patient’s needs.
 A PT has a responsibility to each patient to fully evaluate their
signs and symptoms.
 In order to diagnose and treat the patient so that they benefit
from physical therapy, a PT must be thorough and concise.
 The primary goal of physical therapy is to help improve an
individual’s physical health
REASONS OF INJURY

 Injuries may occur during physical therapy session for a

variety of reasons including:
 The physical therapists unfamiliarity with the patients
 Inadequate supervision
 Broken equipment 
 If you or a family member has been injured while
receiving physical therapy services, it is important to
understand the medical necessity of physical therapy and
its associated risks.
 Also, be aware that your physical therapist must be
licensed by the state to ensure he/she is qualified to
perform physical therapy.
 Injuries can easily occur when your physical therapist is
negligent.
 For elderly patients, these injuries can be even more

dangerous because of their weak bones and other

presenting medical conditions

MALPRACTICE
 Improper techniques are the most common reasons for a
malpractice report:
 Dropping patients
 Leaving patients unattended on equipment
 Failure to supervise
 Using broken equipment
 Sexual assault
 Over-extending joints
 Failing to inform patients of risks
INJURIES CAUSE BY PHYSICAL
THERAPIST
 Some of the most severe consequences of negligence in
physical therapy are lower back injuries, spinal cord
issues, and strokes.
 It is of the utmost importance that individuals providing
physical therapy are vigilant of the potential harm that
can be done during therapy sessions.
TOOLS

 Civil litigation and professional discipline are two tools

that can help reduce medical error by holding physical

therapists responsible for their actions.

CASE REQUIRMENT
 A successful negligence case against a physical therapist
requires you to prove the following elements:
 The PT owed you a duty
 Breached the standard of care
 The breach caused harm to you, and
 There was actual harm or “damages” to you