Unnecessary Treatment

Standard 3.5: Unnecessary Treatment

The Professional Practice Standards regarding unnecessary treatment. This includes the three standards, examples in demonstrating the standard, definitions, and related resources.

Unnecessary Treatment

Standard 3.5: Unnecessary Treatment

The Professional Practice Standards regarding unnecessary treatment. This includes the three standards, examples in demonstrating the standard, definitions, and related resources.

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The Standard

 

3.5.1 Registrants provide or continue therapy only when there is a reasonable prospect of benefit to the client.

 

3.5.2 Registrants involve clients in determining whether therapy offers a reasonable prospect of benefit.

 

3.5.3 When it appears that therapy is no longer indicated or has ceased to be effective, registrants discuss the option of discontinuing therapy.

Standard 3.5

Demonstrating the Standard

  • Standard 3.5

    A registrant demonstrates meeting the standard, for example, by:

     

    • Developing, and periodically reassessing, goals for treatment through conversation and collaboration with the client.
    • Documenting the rationale for offering a particular assessment or treatment, and any discussion with the client regarding the option to continue or discontinue treatment.

Key Definitions

  • Key Definitions

    Reasonable prospect of benefit

    Some likelihood that the client’s condition or well-being will stabilize or improve with treatment, as determined by clinical judgment.

  • Key Definitions

    Indicated

    Suggested by symptoms or assessment, as appropriate.

Standard 3.5

Commentary

It is important for registrants to ensure that any assessment or therapy offers a reasonable prospect of benefit to the client. Unnecessary therapy poses a risk of harm by raising false expectations and wasting the client’s time and money. One of the goals of therapy is to foster independence and autonomy from therapy, clients with similar issues may respond differently to the same treatment. Registrants are required to exercise judgment about whether treatment is unnecessary, informed by the condition of the client, the modalities used in treatment, and the input of the client.

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