Which activity is prohibited due to violating the PT-patient relationship?

Engaging in sexual misconduct is a clear violation of the professional and ethical standards governing the PT-patient relationship. This relationship is built on trust, professional integrity, and a duty to provide care that prioritizes the patient's well-being. Sexual misconduct undermines this trust and creates an environment where the patient may feel unsafe, compromised, or unable to seek necessary care. Such conduct not only violates legal and ethical guidelines but also can lead to severe professional repercussions, including the loss of licensure and legal action.

The other mentioned activities, while also significant in their implications on the PT-patient relationship, do not carry the same immediate ethical violation with respect to trust and safety as sexual misconduct does. For instance, changing treatment plans without consent can be problematic but falls into a different realm of ethical obligation, similarly accepting gifts exceeding a certain value or selling patient information could lead to breaches of confidentiality or ethical guidelines, but they do not directly threaten the fundamental safety of the patient in the same way that sexual misconduct does.