AOTA-P2 — Principle 2: Nonmaleficence
What does AOTA-P2 say?
Occupational therapy personnel shall refrain from actions that cause harm. The Principle of Nonmaleficence indicates that occupational therapy personnel must refrain from causing harm, injury, or wrongdoing to recipients of service. Whereas Beneficence requires taking action to incur benefit, Nonmaleficence requires avoiding actions that cause harm. This Principle also includes an obligation not to impose risks of harm even if the potential risk is without malicious or harmful intent. This Principle is often examined in the context of due care, which requires that the benefits of care outweigh and justify the risks undertaken to achieve the goals of care.
Official source: read the full text in the AOTA Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (2025) (official document).