Principle 1
A physical therapist shall respect the rights and dignity of all individuals and shall provide compassionate care.
This first principle clearly emphasizes the rights and dignity of our patients, colleagues, and other individuals whose care is entrusted to us. The Code emphasizes the principle of respect for a person's autonomy and places it as a central value. This principle also includes the virtue of compassion. Physical therapists and assistants are usually good at providing compassionate care, and we often serve as advocates for our patients. Although compassion is an admirable virtue, we must also be careful not to become too emotionally close with our patients.
The Guide clarifies this principle with four subsections that each reflect
the values espoused in the principle. As physical therapists we are to respect
differences of others. In the health care environment we 
often
treat and work with others that are of different races, cultures, religions, and
beliefs. Physical therapist assistants are also expected to respect the rights
and dignity of individuals in Standard 1. It may be difficult at times to allow
others to make decisions based on their own beliefs and value systems, but we
should not attempt to impose ours on others. As health care professionals we
should inform the patient what we believe would be the best course of action for
them based on our knowledge, evidence, and experience. If there is a conflict,
we should explain the consequences of various courses of action, but we must
respect difference in others.
The following is a case involving a difference in cultures between the therapist and the patient. You may think of other examples of situations in which you have found your own values in conflict with a patient's.