There are two new resources for OT practice in the state of Michigan…generative AI and the MiOTA Ethics Committee. There is no question that AI is rapidly changing the way we teach, plan, practice, and document occupational therapy services. As with any new technology, it is important that we evaluate our actions from an ethical perspective. In this session, members of the Ethics Committee will provide a framework and tools with which to evaluate engagement with AI.
Learning outcomes:By the end of this session, participants will:
1. Identify the occupational therapy practitioner's non-delegable ethical responsibility for clinical decisions, documentation, and treatment plans, even when AI tools are used to support or generate those outputs.
2. Analyze scenarios involving AI-assisted documentation and clinical communication to recognize potential violations of client confidentiality, HIPAA regulations, and data privacy obligations when protected health information is entered into AI platforms.
3. Evaluate how algorithmic bias in AI tools—stemming from non-representative training data—can compromise the ethical principle of justice and lead to inequitable service delivery across diverse client populations (e.g., age, race, geography, disability status).
4. Differentiate between regulatory approval or commercial availability of an AI tool and the ethical obligation to apply professional clinical judgment, informed consent processes, and population-specific considerations before integrating that tool into practice.
5. Apply the ethical principles of veracity and transparency to determine appropriate ways to communicate with clients, caregivers, and interprofessional team members about how AI informs clinical recommendations and decision-making.
6. Articulate a framework for ethical AI integration in occupational therapy that positions AI as a clinical support tool within occupation-centered professional reasoning—neither replacing clinical judgment nor being avoided entirely—consistent with the AOTA Code of Ethics.
References:AOTA. (2025, April).
Policy E.19 Ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI). https://www.aota.org/-/media/corporate/files/aboutaota/officialdocs/policies/e19-ethical-use-of-artificial-intelligence-ai-2025.pdf Jozkowski, A. C. (2025, September 24). The Issue Is--Artificial intelligence and occupational therapy: From emerging occupation to education, practice, and policy imperative.
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79, 7906347100. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.051283 Mulford, D. (2025, March 6).
AI in higher education: A meta summary of recent surveys of students and faculty. Campbell Academic Technology Services.
https://sites.campbell.edu/academictechnology/2025/03/06/ai-in-higher-education-a-summary-of-recent-surveys-of-students-and-faculty/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
