AOTA-P3 — Principle 3: Autonomy
What does AOTA-P3 say?
Occupational therapy personnel shall respect the right of the person to self-determination, privacy, confidentiality, and consent. The Principle of Autonomy expresses the concept that occupational therapy personnel have a duty to treat the service recipient according to their desires, within the bounds of accepted standards of care, and to protect their confidential information. Respecting the Autonomy of service recipients acknowledges their agency, including their right to their own views and opinions and their right to make choices regarding their own care and based on their own values and beliefs. In the event that a person lacks decision-making capacity, their Autonomy should be respected through the involvement of an authorized agent or surrogate decision-maker.
Official source: read the full text in the AOTA Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (2025) (official document).