Ethical, Legal, & Professional Issues Flashcards
ethics
discipline w/in philosophy concerned w/ human conduct
relationship ethics
based on equitability and caring
equitability
proposition that everyone is entitled to have his/her welfare interests considered in a way that is fair from a multilateral perspective
caring
idea that moral development and principles are centered on the social context of relationships and interdependency
neutrality
early belief in family therapy that the theories and practices involved in working w/families were value-free
values
beliefs and preferences, the ranking of an ordered set of choices from most to least preferable 4 domains: 1-personal 2-family 3-political/social 4-ultimate
action-oriented research
focuses on finding solutions to the problem of family violence
dual (multiple) relationship
therapist assumes a second role as friend, business associate, etc.
consultation
use of experts in an area to enhance one’s knowledge and abilities
internal consultation
talking with an expert where one works
outside consultation
conversation with a professional outside one’s own setting
process consultation
conferring with an expert about the ethics of the methods one is using
outcome-focused consultation
centered on the ethics of what the therapist and/or family hopes to accomplish
formal consultation
input gained from an expert through an appointment or structured meeting
informal consultation
talking with an expert informally at a professional therapy conference or engaging in some less structured way of interaction
family therapy supervision
systemic, includes a focus on interpersonal, as well as on intrapersonal, issues, videotapes and one-way mirrors
bug-in-the-ear supervision
therapist receives messages from a supervisor through a telephone hookup device
metaethical principles
high-level standards that guide clinicians as they make decisions
autonomy-right of individuals to make decisions
nonmaleficence-avoidance of doing harm
beneficence-doing good, promoting client’s welfare
fidelity-trusworthy/loyal, keeping promises
justice-treating people equally
confidentiality
the ethical duty to fulfill a contract or promise to clients that the information revealed during therapy will be protected from unauthorized disclosure
self-disclosure statement
signed agreement that all family members understand that revealed info is confidential and that no one will be treated as “the problem”
privileged communication
client’s legal right, guaranteed by statute, that confidences originating in a therapeutic relationship will be safeguarded, can be waived in cases of abuse
legal
law or state of being lawful, a body of rules recognized by a state or community as binding on its members
liability
legal term dealing with obligation and responsibility one person has to another:
civil-lawsuit by a client against the therapist for professional malpractice (negligence) or gross negligence
criminal-commission of a crime by the therapist, such as failing to report child abuse, engaging in sexual relations w/a patient, committing insurance fraud
administrative-license to practice is threatened by an investigation from the licensing board that has the power to suspend a license
common law
derived from tradition and usage, not written sources
statutory law
laws passed by legislative bodies (state, national legislatures), valid in the jurisdiction in which they are passed
administrative (regulatory) law
specialized regulations passed by authorized government agencies pertaining to certain specialty areas
case law (court decisions)
laws decided by decisions in court
civil law
acts offensive to individuals, like divorce
criminal law
acts offensive to society in general, like abuse
malpractice
failure to fulfill the requisite standard of care, either because of omission (what should have been done but was not done) or commission (doing something that should not have been done)
records
written notes from sessions, should be clinically worded and accurate, be housed separately from any business transactions
in camera review
an impartial party like a judge reviews records and releases only those portions that are relevant to the situation at hand
liability insurance
protects therapists financially from legal claims that they have mishandled clients’ needs
managed health care
businesses contract with large organizations to reduce costs of employees’ heath insurance
MMHC
managed mental health care, focuses on mental health services
utilization review
practitioner submits written justification for treatment along with comprehensive treatment plan
capitated contract
providers agree to provide treatment for a population for a per person per year fee
care pathway guidelines
delineate specific timelines in which diagnosis and interventions should occur
