Unpublished MSc thesis, Wiener Schule für Osteopathie, 2007/12, 77, type of study: ,qs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/2946)

Keywords:

physiotherapy [59]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
OMT [3925]
professional autonomy [1]
professional identity [45]
qualitative study [290]
WSO [508]

Abstract:

This literature research looks at and evaluates the legal background against which osteopathy is practiced by self-employed physical therapists in Austria. Since osteopathy is not recognized as independent therapeutic profession within the Austrian health care system, no statutory rules and regulations exist for osteopathy at the moment. Due to this fact, a number of training possibilities and institutions were founded in recent years, which differ considerably in their quality. Physical therapists are entitled to use osteopathic treatment techniques (structural, visceral and cranio-sacral) on the basis of their competencies anchored in the Clinical Technical Services Act (MTD Act) and civil and criminal law regulations. It is assumed though that certain elements of osteopathy must not be applied by physical therapists due to legal considerations. This paper will examine this kind of problems more closely. A certain degree of legal knowledge is necessary for all self-employed physical therapists who want to practice osteopathy in order to protect their patients and clients and not least also themselves and to give osteopathy its justification.