<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<chapter num="02" heading="Code of Ethics" title_num="10" subtitle_num="38">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Code of Ethics.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The physical therapist and physical therapist assistant shall provide care regardless of the patient's:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Race;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Religion;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Color;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Age;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>National origin;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>Marital status;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>Sexual orientation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(8)">
        <text>Gender identity; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(9)">
        <text>Disability.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant shall respect the dignity of the patient.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The physical therapist and physical therapist assistant shall protect the patient's right to privacy by not divulging confidential information without consent of the patient or guardian unless required by law.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>The physical therapist shall provide information about fees upon request by the patient.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>The physical therapist may not dispense or supply physical therapy equipment unless it is in the best interest of the patient.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>The physical therapist and physical therapist assistant shall report to the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners all information that indicates a person is allegedly performing, or aiding and abetting, the illegal or unsafe practice of physical therapy.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="G.">
      <text>The physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant shall comply with the probationary conditions of a Board order.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="H.">
      <text>A licensee shall notify the Board in writing within 60 days if any license, certificate, permit, or registration granted by another state for the practice of physical therapy or limited physical therapy has been limited, restricted, suspended, revoked, or subjected to other disciplinary action by the licensing or certifying authority.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="I.">
      <text>The physical therapist and physical therapist assistant shall provide and maintain medical records in accordance with Health-General Article, §§4-301—4-402, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="J.">
      <text>The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may not knowingly or willfully destroy, damage, alter, obliterate, or otherwise obscure a medical record or billing record or other information about a patient in an effort to conceal the information from use as evidence in an administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="K.">
      <text>The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may not intimidate or influence any person to withhold or change testimony in hearings or proceedings before the Board or those otherwise delegated to the Office of Administrative Hearings.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="L.">
      <text>The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may not hinder, prevent, or otherwise delay any person from making information available to the Board in furtherance of any investigation of the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Sexual Misconduct.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may not engage in sexual misconduct.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Sexual behavior with a client or patient in the context of a professional evaluation, treatment, procedure, or service to the client or patient, regardless of the setting in which the professional service is rendered;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Sexual behavior with a client or patient under the pretext of diagnostic or therapeutic intent or benefit;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Solicitation of a sexual relationship, whether consensual or nonconsensual, with a patient;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Sexual advances requesting sexual favors;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>Therapeutically inappropriate or intentional touching of a sexual nature;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>A verbal comment of a sexual nature;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>Physical contact of a sexual nature with a patient;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(8)">
        <text>Discussion of unnecessary sexual matters while treating a patient;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(9)">
        <text>The taking of photographs of patients for a sexual purpose;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(10)">
        <text>Sexual harassment of staff or students;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(11)">
        <text>An unnecessary sensual act or comment; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(12)">
        <text>Sexual contact with an incompetent or unconscious patient.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Penalties.">
    <text>Violation of Regulation .01 or .02 of this chapter may result in the Board taking action to reprimand a licensee or place the licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke the licensee's license. The Board may also impose a penalty not exceeding $5,000.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Health-General Article, §2-1004; Health Occupations Article, §§1-212, 13-206, and 13-316; Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: April 6, 1979 (6:7 Md. R. 577)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulations .01—.03 repealed and new regulations .01 and .02 adopted effective August 2, 1982 (9:15 Md. R. 1514)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01A amended effective April 4, 2022 (49:7 Md. R. 467)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01C amended effective April 24, 2006 (33:8 Md. R. 734)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01G adopted effective September 18, 2000 (27:18 Md. R. 1665)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01H—L adopted effective March 18, 2002 (29:5 Md. R. 504)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02 amended effective November 7, 1994 (21:22 Md. R. 1877)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02 amended and recodified to Regulation .03 and new Regulation .02 adopted effective September 6, 1999 (26:18 Md. R. 1376)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>