Since physical therapy is an autonomous and independent profession, there should be no impediment to physical therapists entering into a service delivery system designated as private practice, in which individual physical therapists contract to deliver services to public in accord with government health care policies or market forces.
Government health care policies or market forces will determine methods of payment which involve third parties, the physical therapy association being involved in negotiations on behalf of physical therapists.
The central element of professional autonomy is the assurance that individual physical therapists have freedom to exercise professional judgment in health promotion, prevention of disability and rehabilitation of patients. In so far as the actions of physical therapists are the responsibility of the individual physical therapists,
it follows that their professional decisions cannot be controlled or compromised by employers, persons from other professions or others.
