The California Board of Occupational Therapy has proposed modifications to the text of Title 16, California Code of Regulations, section 4170, which are the Ethical Standards of Practice of Occupational Therapy. The proposed modifications include a number of gramatical changes and clean-up of the regulation. However, it also contains substantive changes. Specifically:
- Subsection (b)(2) includes a ban on all sexual relations with recipients of service and for six (6) months after the relationship has been terminated. This includes family (i.e. husband/wife) and significant other.
- Subsection (f) mandates that fellow occupational therapists report to the BOT any ” acts committed by another occupational therapy practitioner that they have reason to believe are unethical or illegal.” And the subsection requires that the reporting party cooperate in providing needed evidence and testimony.
Subsection (f) is based in part on the requirement under Business and Professions Code, section 2570.36, which state:
If a licensee has knowledge that an applicant or licensee may be in violation of, or has violated, any of the statutes or regulations administered by the board, the licensee shall report this information to the board in writing and shall cooperate with the board in providing information or assistance as may be required.