How the Ethics Commission Works

  • One of the primary roles of the EC is ethics education. Accordingly, the EC periodically issues Advisory Opinions; provides an "Everyday Ethics" Workshop at the AOTA Annual Conference & Expo; and develops and provides other educational materials in response to member needs, inquiries, and ethical trends.
  • The Ethics Standards of the Association include three documents, the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (2005), the Guidelines to the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics, and the Core Values and Attitudes of Occupational Therapy Practice.
  • The EC reviews and investigates ethics complaints filed against AOTA members. Disciplinary actions that may be recommended by the EC include reprimand, censure, probation, suspension, and revocation.
  • For specific information about the disciplinary process used by the EC, see the Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics in the Enforcement section of this Web site under Ethics.
  • The EC meets face-to-face at least once a year at the Association's headquarters, with additional conference call meetings. Members of the AOTA may attend these meetings; however, executive sessions (i.e., for case discussions) are closed to the public.
  • Meeting minutes, with the exception of those for executive sessions, are distributed to the AOTA Board of Directors and Representative Assembly (RA).
  • Other agencies that have oversight over the occupational therapy profession include State Regulatory Boards (SRBs) and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Along with AOTA, each has a defined jurisdiction and areas of specific concern. For more information on the ethical jurisdictions of AOTA, NBCOT, and SRBs, consult the Reference Guide to the Occupational Therapy Ethics Standards.

Last Updated: 8/19/2008
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