What does the term "Ethics" refer to?

The term "Ethics" primarily relates to the reasoning behind actions, encompassing the principles and values that guide individuals in making decisions about right and wrong conduct. In the context of physical therapy and healthcare, ethics involves critically assessing how choices impact patients, colleagues, and society as a whole. It informs practitioners on how to act professionally and compassionately while ensuring they respect the rights and dignity of those they serve.

The reasoning connected to ethics can involve considerations of beneficence (acting in the best interest of patients), non-maleficence (avoiding harm), autonomy (respecting a patient's right to make informed decisions), and justice (fairness in treatment). Ethics is crucial in establishing a framework for how professionals navigate dilemmas they may face in their practice.

Although legal standards, morals, and social responsibilities are related concepts that inform ethical behavior, they are distinct from the core definition of ethics itself. Legal standards focus on what is mandated or prohibited by law, morals pertain to personal beliefs about right and wrong, and social responsibilities address the obligations professionals have toward society. Thus, the reasoning behind actions aligns most closely with the definition of ethics in this context.