APA Ethics Code Standards 5 & 6 Flashcards
Which of the following best describes ethical requirements regarding psychologists’ use of client testimonials in brochures and other statements describing their professional services?
A. They may use only unsolicited testimonials from former and current therapy clients.
B. They may use solicited or unsolicited testimonials from former and current therapy clients as long as the clients are not compensated for them.
C. They may use solicited testimonials from former therapy clients who are not vulnerable to undue influence.
D. They may use solicited testimonials from former therapy clients as long as they do not include misleading information.
Answer C is correct. This answer is most consistent with the requirements of Standard 5.05 of the Ethics Code. It prohibits psychologists from soliciting testimonials from current therapy clients and from others “who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence.” Of course, psychologists would not want to use testimonials that provide misleading information (answer D) but, even if the information is accurate, they would not use solicited testimonials from former therapy clients if those clients are vulnerable to undue influence.
You receive a written request from a colleague asking you to forward a copy of the file of a former client of yours who is now seeing him in therapy. To expedite receiving the file, the colleague asks you to send it to him as an attachment to an email. The colleague’s request is accompanied by an authorization to release information signed by the client. You should send the colleague the file as an attachment to an email:
A. since the client has signed an authorization.
B. after confirming that you have the correct email address for the colleague.
C. only if you are able to remove all information that identifies the client from the electronic copy of the file.
D. only if you’re able to clearly label each page of the record “confidential.”
Answer C is correct. Of the answers given, this is the best one because it’s most consistent with the requirements of Standard 6.02(b) of the Ethics Code. It states that, “if confidential information concerning recipients of psychological services is entered into databases or systems of records available to persons whose access has not been consented to by the recipient, psychologists use coding or other techniques to avoid the inclusion of personal identifiers.” When information is faxed or otherwise transferred electronically, it’s not possible to guarantee that it will not be accessed by unauthorized individuals. Therefore, removing identifying information is the best course of action.
With regard to ethical requirements, which of the following is true about referral fees?
A. They are unacceptable in any circumstance.
B. They are acceptable as long as a referred client’s fee is not increased to compensate for the fee paid for the referral.
C. They are acceptable as long as both parties agree that the amount of the fee is equitable.
D. They are acceptable as long as they’re for the actual services provided by the person who made the referral.
Answer D is correct. This answer is most consistent with the requirements of Standard 6.07. It states that, “when psychologists pay, receive payment from, or divide fees with another professional … the payment to each is based on the services provided (clinical, consultative, administrative, or other) and is not based on the referral itself.”
To be consistent with ethical requirements, you should discuss fees and other financial matters with therapy clients:
A. before the first therapy session.
B. during the first therapy session.
C. as part of the informed consent process.
D. as early as feasible.
Answer D is correct. This answer is the best one because it uses the actual language of Standard 6.04 of the Ethics Code. It requires psychologists to reach an agreement with clients “as early as feasible” about fees and other financial arrangements.
Routinely waiving the insurance co-payments of therapy clients is acceptable:
A. only when the insurance company has approved of this arrangement.
B. as long as it’s justified by the clients’ inability to pay the co-payment.
C. only if the insurance company is not charged an increased fee to make up for the co-payment.
D. because it’s a “standard practice.”
Answer A is correct. Routinely waiving the co-payments of clients means that the insurance company is paying 100% of the therapist’s fee for those clients, but most insurance companies agree to pay a certain percentage (e.g., 50%) of the fee. Therefore, this practice constitutes insurance fraud if the insurance company has not agreed to it and is both illegal and unethical.
To be consistent with ethical requirements, psychologists must claim as credentials for their mental health services:
A. only masters and doctoral degrees in psychology or a related field.
B. only degrees from regionally accredited educational institutions.
C. only degrees that were the basis for their psychology licensure.
D. only degrees from regionally accredited educational institutions or that were the basis for their psychology licensure.
Answer D is correct. This answer is the best one because it’s closest to the language of Standard 5.01(c) of the Ethics Code. It states that psychologists can claim as credentials for their mental health services only degrees that “were earned from a regionally accredited educational institution or … were the basis for psychology licensure.”
The use of a sliding scale when setting fees for therapy clients:
A. may be acceptable but is not explicitly mentioned in the ethics codes published by the American and Canadian Psychological Associations.
B. is unacceptable but is not explicitly mentioned in the ethics codes published by the American and Canadian Psychological Associations.
C. is explicitly recommended in the ethics codes published by the American and Canadian Psychological Associations.
D. is explicitly prohibited in the ethics codes published by the American and Canadian Psychological Associations.
Answer A is correct. The APA’s Ethics Code and the Canadian Code of Ethics do not mention the use of sliding-fee scales, but they’re generally considered acceptable as long as they’re used in a uniform way with all clients and are consistent with state laws. See, e.g., E. R. Welfel, Ethics in counseling and psychotherapy: Standards, research, and emerging issues, Boston, MA, Cengage Learning, 2016.
Which of the following best describes ethical requirements for bartering psychological services for goods or services?
A. Bartering is unacceptable except in the “most unusual circumstances.”
B. Bartering may be acceptable as long as it’s unlikely to harm or exploit the client.
C. Bartering is acceptable as long as a “fair market value” can be agreed upon for the goods or services.
D. Bartering may be acceptable as long as it does not create a conflict of interest.
Answer B is correct. This answer is most consistent with the requirements of Standard 6.05 of the Ethics Code. It states that “psychologists may barter only if (1) it is not clinically contraindicated, and (2) the resulting arrangement is not exploitative.”
