The American Occupational Therapy Association announced that Dr. Yvette Hachtel was elected by a vote of its membership as chairperson of the Ethics Commission for the national professional organization. Hachtel is a tenured professor at Belmont University’s School of Occupational Therapy.
“It is a tremendous honor and privilege to be elected chairperson-elect for the AOTA Ethics Commission. As a former board member of a state professional licensure board and most recently as a consultant to Tennessee’s Occupational Therapy Practice Board, I know that occupational therapy practitioners have an outstanding reputation for providing quality, ethical intervention to their clients. The AOTA Code of Ethics provides guidance for occupational therapy practitioners faced with potential and actual ethical issues. It is a living document that must remain current and reflective of the world we live and practice in. With the proliferation of the Internet and social media, we are all under increasing scrutiny by the public and it is important that we take even more rigorous precautions to protect the privacy and dignity of our clients,” Hachtel said. “As medicine offers new options for patients, occupational therapy practitioners must continue to provide accurate and current information to assist our clients in making informed, ethical treatment choices while being cognizant of their respective cultural backgrounds and values.”
The Ethics Commission is responsible for developing and revising the AOTA Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards. Hachtel will take office on July 1.
Founded in 1917, AOTA represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 140,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide.
