Beth is an occupational therapy student in her 11th week of her 1st Level II Fieldwork. She has a full caseload of her own that she is responsible for on a daily basis. Her fieldwork educator, Corinne, has a few patients that she sees on her own, without Beth in the room. At the end of the day, Corinne states that she has to leave early that day and asks Beth to write all the treatment notes, even for those clients that Beth did not see. Corinne states that she wrote down what she did with each client, and Beth can base her notes on that. Corinne will then sign the notes the next morning. When Beth says she is not comfortable writing the notes, Corinne states that no one will ever know that Beth wrote them, and if anyone asks, to just lie.

Beth is an occupational therapy student in her 11th week of her 1st Level II Fieldwork. She has a full caseload of her own that she is responsible for on a daily basis. Her fieldwork educator, Corinne, has a few patients that she sees on her own, without Beth in the room. At the end of the day, Corinne states that she has to leave early that day and asks Beth to write all the treatment notes, even for those clients that Beth did not see.

Corinne states that she wrote down what she did with each client, and Beth can base her notes on that. Corinne will then sign the notes the next morning. When Beth says she is not comfortable writing the notes, Corinne states that no one will ever know that Beth wrote them, and if anyone asks, to just lie.

Ethical Dilemma: Justice

Ethical Dilemma: Fidelity

Action step to resolve:

Decision: The student should talk with the OT first and try to work out the issue with them. The student should always move up the chain of command if they experience problems or conflict with the OT. They should then report immediately to the fieldwork educator to make sure that the issue is resolved and handled appropriately.

Action step to resolve:

Discuss the concerns with the school's clinical adviser

Discuss the concern with a superior in the clinical setting because the OT wants to keep it a secret.

Discuss the concern with the ethical commity

The worst choice that the student would take is to do nothing at all or to type up the notes and not tell anyone.

Report and inform appropriate authorities of any acts in practice, education, and research that are unethical or illegal.

The OT student discusses with the occupational therapist that this type of practice jeopardizes the safety or well-being of others and team collaboration.

Professional and reliability issues:The first responsibility for the student is to try to work through the issue with the OT by themselves by talking to them and telling them they are not comfortable documenting for them. This could cause tension between the student and therapist so it is important that the student use caution and address the situation with sensitivity.

Professional and reliability issues:Because the student is still in school, the school clinical adviser is always a good resource to help the student work through clinical problems.

Collaborate with employees to form policies or procedures that are in compliance with the ethical standards.

Professional and reliability issues:This step would be more appropriate after talking with the OT, clinical adviser, or a clinical superior first and if neither of them are willing to help or change the situation then the student could use this resource. It might cause drama and more problems if the student starts with this step

Bill and collect fees legally and justly in a manner that is fair with the services that were delivered.

Professional and reliability issues:This step would best used after talking first with the OT and the school clinical adviser and if the issue is not resolved the student should move up the chain of command and inform the clinical superior.

Professional and reliability issues:If the student does nothing they could get in trouble with the OT for not doing what they were instructed to do or the patient could face injury or incorrect treatment if there was a mistake made during documentation. Also, if the student chooses to do the notes for the OT they could face charges, penalties, or get kicked out of school for engaging in unethical practice.

Professional and reliability issues:OT student should inform others of the situation to receive support for current condition because the therapist wants to keep it a secret.

Professional and reliability issues:Student should ask the OT about current policy and documentation within their setting.

Professional and reliability issues: Because the student was not in the session they do not know if the OT really performed what was stated in the notes; therefore, the student might be billing the patient for services not rendered.

Decision: The OT student should address the issue by going to the OT's superior and contacting her fieldwork educator. The OT student should make it aware to the OT that it is unethical for the student to have to document for both caseloads which affects the amount of work that is being produced.