Policy statement: Informed consent

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) expects physical therapists to ensure that the

Patient: An individual who is the recipient of physical therapy and direct interventions. A person for whom a health service accepts responsibility for treatment and/or care. Individuals who are recipients of physical therapy may also be referred to as clients or service users.

See also Client, Service user

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/

Client: a person, group or organisation eligible to receive services either directly or indirectly from a physiotherapist. The client is: 

• an individual who is not necessarily sick or injured but who can benefit from a physiotherapist’s consultation, professional advice, or services; or 
• a business, school system, and others to whom physiotherapists offer services.

See also Patient

See also Service user

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or responsible party (parent, spouse, partner, guardian, caregiver, etc) has given appropriate consent before any

Physical therapy —services for individuals and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. Physical therapy is described more comprehensively in WCPT’s Description of Physical Therapy.

The professional title and term used to describe the profession's practice varies and depends largely on the historical roots of the profession in each country. The most generally used titles and terms are 'physical therapy’, ‘physiotherapy' and ‘physical therapist’, ‘physiotherapist’.

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is undertaken.