Ethics Flashcards
Psychologists can use animals in research if what 2 conditions are met?
- It is in compliance with current federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and with professional standards.; 2. Reasonable efforts are made to minimize discomfort, infection, illness, and pain to animals.
________ always takes precedence over the need
to educate or punish an offending psychologist,
which must always be considered before filing a
complaint.
Client Confidentiality
Psychologists are required to work within the boundaries of their ___________, which can be based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience.
Competence
When recording voices and/or images in research, when is informed consent not required?
When the research consists solely of naturalistic observations in public places, and it is not anticipated that the recording will be used in a manner that could cause personal identification or harm
What course of action should you take if you discover a colleague has been violating an ethical standard that puts no clients in direct harm?
Attempt to resolve the problem informally by
discussing the matter with the offender
What is the legal concept that protects a
client’s confidentiality in the context of legal proceedings?
Privilege
Informed consent is provided during debriefing
When the problem involves “substantial harm”
and is not appropriate for an informal resolution or
has not been resolved satisfactorily by an attempt
at an informal resolution
Typically,________ is the holder of the privilege.
The Client
In a consultative relationship, when is it appropriate to disclose confidential client information?
- When the consultant and consultee have a confidential relationship;
- If the consultee has obtained prior consent of
the person or organization; - If disclosure is unavoidable
What has the data on sexual misconduct by therapists
consistently shown?
Male therapists violate much more than female
therapists, and they are usually older (42-44 y/o)
than the female clients (30-33 y/o) they become
involved with
A psychologist has been meeting regularly with a child
whose parents recently filed for divorce and have requested a child custody evaluation. What
course of action should the psychologist take?
While not required, The Guidelines state psychologists generally avoid conducting such evaluations when s/he has served in a therapeutic role for the child or their family
What relationships have been found between risk
for sexual misconduct and theoretical orientation,
professional experience, or education?
None (Pope et al., 1993)
What 4 conditions must be met in order for a client to bring a claim of malpractice against a psychologist?
- Psychologist must have had a professional relationship with the person;
- Must be a demonstrable standard of care breached by psychologist;
- Person suffered harm or injury;
- Harm or injury was proximally caused by psychologist’s breach of duty within context of standard of care
When can a psychologist use client testimonials?
When they are not solicited from current therapy clients or other persons who, because of their circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence
Is it ever appropriate for a psychologist to pay, receive payment from, or divide fees with another professional for referring them a client?
No, this is unethical. All payments in such situations must be based on the services provided (e.g., clinical, consultative, administrative)
What legal decision originally established a psychologists “duty to warn,” which later became a “duty to protect?”
The Tarasoff Decision, which regards a client’s admission of intent to harm another person
A ________ refers to a person who testifies as to what they saw, heard, or otherwise observed regarding a circumstance, event or occurrence as it actually took place.
Fact Witness
Bartering is allowed only if what two conditions are
met?
- It is not clinically contraindicated;
2. It is not exploitative
________ are allowed to offer professional opinions and provide testimony based on hypothetical scenarios, while ________ cannot.
Expert Witnesses;
Fact Witnesses
In a legal proceeding, if a defendant lacks sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding, and a rational as well as a factual understanding of the proceedings against him/her, s/he is deemed ________.
Incompetent to stand trial
When taking on a new therapy client, when should a
psychologist obtain informed consent?
As early as is feasible- should include nature and anticipated course of therapy, fees, 3rd party involvement, limits of confidentiality, and provide
client opportunity to ask questions and receive answers
A person who by reason of education or specialized experience possesses superior knowledge regarding a subject about which persons having no particular training are incapable of forming an accurate opinion or deducing correct conclusions is referred to as an ________.
Expert Witness
Are psychologists required by the Ethics Code to provide Pro Bono services?
No, however the General Principles, which are aspirational in nature, promote it
Is it ethical for psychologists to engage in sexual
behavior with students or supervisees?
No. In fact, it is unethical for a psychologist to engage in sexual relations with anyone they are likely to have
evaluative authority over
Psychologists are to refrain from entering into a multiple
relationship when?
If the relationship can be reasonably expected to impair the psychologist’s objectivity, competence, or effectiveness, or otherwise risks exploitation or harm to the client
The Client Welfare standard of the APA Ethics Code
requires what?
That reasonable steps are taken by psychologists to avoid and minimize harm to clients, students, research participants, and others with whom they work
What is the first step a psychologist should take when
they receive a subpoena?
Determine if the subpoena is a legally valid demand
What conditions must be met for deception to ethically be used in research?
- Deception is justified by the study’s prospective scientific, educational, applied value and effective non-deceptive alternatives are not feasible;
- Participants are not deceived about conditions that might cause significant pain or emotional distress;
- Participants are debriefed preferably at end of their
participation, but no later than conclusion of data collection
Following an evaluation, are psychologists allowed to provide clients with raw test data if the client requests it?
Yes, it would unethical not to do so. However, there are some exceptions if the psychologist believes the test data could harm the client
The “Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services to Ethnic, Linguistic, and Culturally Diverse Populations” presents principles that are ________ in nature.
Aspirational
TRUE or FALSE:
In some situations, it is ethical for a psychologist to withhold reporting a case of known child abuse.
FALSE: All jurisdictions require psychologists to report known cases of child abuse to the appropriate authorities
Is it ethical or unethical to deny employment, admission to academic or other programs, advancement, or
promotion to someone who has previously made or been the subject of an ethics complaint?
Unethical
Sliding fee scales are generally considered acceptable as long as they are ________.
Fair and serve the best interests of the client
What is FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy
Act of 1974)?
It prohibits educational institutions receiving federal funds from disclosing personally identifying information from student records without the consent of the student or legal guardian (if under 18); also grants right to inspect one’s educational records
In deciding whether to provide services to a person already receiving mental health services elsewhere, what should a psychologist consider?
The treatment issues and the potential client’s welfare. These issues are discussed with the client and the psychologist should proceed with caution
A legal concept referring to a persons incapacity to determine right from wrong or to behave according to the requirements of the law.
Insanity, which is not a psychological concept, but used
in a purely legal sense
Psychologists are to act ________ and ________ when teaching, supervising, and designing education
and training programs.
Competently; Responsibly
Publication credit is given based primarily on ________.
Relative scientific or professional contributions of the
individuals involved, regardless of their relative status
In-person solicitation of business from actual or potential therapy clients or other persons is unethical when it involves what?
Solicitation of people who, due to their particular
circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence
TRUE or FALSE:
Psychologists can base assessment/intervention decisions or recommendations
on tests, measures, data, or test results that are outdated or obsolete.
FALSE: Only tests that are useful to the current
purpose can be used ethically
________ refers to the obligation of psychologists
to protect clients from unauthorized disclosure of
information revealed in the context of the professional
relationship.
Confidentiality
How is Sexual Harassment defined by APA’s Ethics Code?
Sexual solicitation, physical advances, or verbal or nonverbal conduct that is sexual in nature, occurs in connection with the psychologist’s activities or roles as a psychologist, and either (1) is obviously unwelcome, offensive, or creates a hostile environment or (2) is sufficiently severe to be abusive to a reasonable person in the context
These were adopted as a means of self-regulation in the public interest, and its provisions are general and aspirational.
The General Guidelines for Providers of Psychological
Services
Who is responsible for the appropriate application,
interpretation, and use of assessment instruments
scored and interpreted by automated services?
The administering psychologist retains responsibility
Upon termination, what does the Ethics Code state a psychologist should do?
Terminate therapy
Regarding client records, who is the owner of the physical record?
Typically, the psychologist, while the client has the right
to inspect the contents of the record
Upon termination, what does the Ethics Code state
a psychologist should do?
Provide pre-termination counseling and suggest alternative service providers as appropriate
APA’s Record Keeping Guidelines specifies that records of psychological services must include:
identifying data, dates of service, types of service, fees,
assessment reports and intervention plans, and releases of information
When providing services to a person legally incapable of giving informed consent, what should the psychologist do?
Provide an appropriate explanation, seek the person’s assent, consider the person’s preferences and best interests, and obtain permission from a legally authorized person
The Specialty Guidelines for ________ does not define minimum qualifications in terms of education, as other Specialty Guidelines do, but rather focuses on professional practice issues in the context of forensic work.
Forensic Psychologists
What steps should be taken by a psychologist whose personal problems are preventing them from competently performing work-related activities?
Take appropriate measures (e.g., obtain consultation or assistance) and determine whether they should limit, suspend, or terminate their work-related duties
What must a psychologist do before using a collection agency to collect unpaid fees?
Inform the client that such measures will be taken and provide that person an opportunity to make prompt payment
Is it ever ethical to have sexual relationships with a former client?
Yes, though only after 2 years and in the “most unusual circumstances;” in such cases, the psychologists must prove that the relationship is not harmful.
The ________ evaluates the knowledge that should
have been acquired by any candidate seeking licensure to practice psychology.
Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)
Is it ethical or unethical for a psychologist to provide therapy to a person they previously had sexual relations with?
Unethical- this is absolute, there are no time limits or exceptions
The concept that supervisors/employers may be legally responsible for the actions of their supervisees/employees is called ________.
Vicarious Liability, or respondeat superior
As a psychologist, what would you do if you arrived
early to the office one morning to find a colleague having sex with one of his/her current clients?
Report him to the ethics committee, as this violation is not amenable to informal resolution, making sure to protect the client’s confidentiality rights
What is the primary value underlying the existence of
Ethical Principles?
The advancement and protection of the welfare of the
patients and clients of psychologists
What is a psychologist to do if a client informs them that s/he had sex with a previous therapist?
Outline the client’s rights and options regarding legal
actions and ethical complaints
If an ethical issue is not addressed in the Ethics Code, it indicates what about any related conduct?
It may be ethical or unethical
What is a psychologist’s best option if s/he wants to work with clients from an ethnic group s/he has not worked with before?
Seek supervision and/or consultation before taking on such clients and while working with them
You’re contacted by the APA Ethics Committee in regard to a complaint filed against you by a client. They ask for your records related to the client’s therapy with you. What should you do?
Cooperate fully with the Committee’s request. Confidentiality is not an issue since the committee must
obtain a signed waiver of confidentiality from the
complainant before it takes any action
A psychologist who has been having marital problems begins to notice that during marital therapy with his clients he is tending to agree more with the husband’s perspective. He should:
Seek consultation- the Code requires psychologists who become aware of personal problems that may interfere with adequate performance in their work to take appropriate measures
When might the use of interpreters in psychotherapy
be ethical?
When steps have been taken to avoid a multiple
relationship between the interpreter and the client
In your capacity as an I/O Psychologist you observe
repeated incidents of sexual harassment. What is your best course of action?
Observe the incidents and, if possible, take active steps to intervene- the Code states that psychologists attempt to “minimize harm to those with whom they work”
TRUE or FALSE:
It is unethical to utilize an interpreter without first having them sign a confidentiality
agreement.
FALSE: While it is a good idea to discuss the importance of maintaining confidentiality, there is no
ethical standard requiring an interpreter to sign such
an agreement
A psychologists is seeing a family and notices bruises on the son’s body. The parents say he was seen by a
pediatrician, but they forgot to mention the bruises to her. When asked how the child got inured, the parents say he “fell down the stairs” and provide no further
details. The boy is silent and withdrawn. What should the psychologist do?
File a child abuse report with the appropriate state agency, as there is reasonable suspicion of ongoing child abuse
A psychologist is dating a graduate student in his class who is older than other students and has returned to school after 15 years. The psychologists behavior is:
Unethical, regardless of whether sex is involved,
because it is a dual relationship with clear potential for harm or exploitation
A client you know owns a gun and has a history of violent behavior tells you he is planning to shoot his ex-girlfriend. You should:
Warn the police and attempt to warn the ex-girlfriend, per “duty to protect”
What should a psychologist to do if a client they are seeing on condition of probation says s/he wants to
terminate therapy?
Tell the client s/he has the right to leave, but explain the legal ramifications of doing so
A client who is HIV+ claims that s/he has been engaging in casual unprotected sex with various partners. Is this sufficient grounds to break
confidentiality and notify the authorities?
No. APA states disclosure is permitted if (1) there is an
identifiable 3rd party who is at risk, (2) the 3rd party is
unaware s/he is at risk, and (3) the client has refused or is not considered reliable to inform the 3rd party
As an Army psychologist, a General asks you questions about a Colonel you have evaluated. What is the ethical way to respond?
When the students are made aware of these modifications in a manner that enables them to fulfill course requirements
A psychologist publishes an ad promising “guaranteed
results.” What is true about this ad?
It is unethical because it is misleading and may engender unduly optimistic expectations of positive results
According to ________, psychologists must notify their clients how they may use the clients’ personal health
information.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
What must brochures for workshops always include?
A description of the intended audience
According to HIPAA, when might a psychologist be
considered a “covered entity?”
If they transmit certain client information electronically
You routinely waive the co-payment of less wealthy clients who are insured, since you offer clients without insurance a sliding scale. This is:
Unethical and illegal since the insurance company has not been informed
Psychotherapy notes, as defined by HIPAA, refers
to what?
Notes recorded in any medium by a mental health professional documenting or analyzing the contents of conversation during a private counseling session they
are not considered a part of a client’s Protected Health
Information (PHI)
When would it be ethical for a psychology professor to modify a course syllabus several weeks after the course began?
When the students are made aware of these modifications in a manner that enables them to fulfill course requirements
Is it ethical for a psychologist to engage in a sexual relationship with a student after the course has been completed and grades submitted?
No, as it is likely the student is still in the department and, thus, the professor maintains “evaluative authority”
You are asked by an attorney to evaluate a divorced woman’s competence as a parent during a custody dispute. As an ethical psychologist, you should:
Evaluate the client, the children, and the husband
before filing a report
When evaluating students and supervisees, psychologists must do what?
Base their evaluation on relevant and established
program requirements, provide timely feedback, and provide information about the evaluation process at the
beginning of supervision
A forensic psychologist is ordered by the court to evaluate a celebrity accused of assault and battery. Part of the evaluation is used in the trial and becomes a matter of public record. At the end of the trial, in
which the defendant was found guilty, the psychologist writes a book including information about parts of the evaluation not discussed in court. These actions are:
Unethical but legal, as information disclosed in court-ordered evaluations are not privileged
When is informed consent to research not necessary?
When dispensing with it clearly poses no harm or is
scientifically justifiable, such as in naturalistic
observation or anonymous questionnaires
TRUE or FALSE:
Computerized interpretive reports are legitimate and valuable, and they tend to be good substitutes for a clinician’s own impressions.
FALSE: Computerized interpretive reports are to be accompanied by the psychologists personal evaluation
Is it ever ethical to kill an animal that has been used for
research?
Yes, if it is done rapidly and with an effort to minimize pain
As the only psychologist working in a medical clinic
that you are about to leave for a new job, you are
concerned that some files contain outdated data. What should you do?
Remove obsolete data from the files, as release of such data may cause client harm or misrepresentation
It is _______ to train and allow an assistant
with a B.A. in sociology to administer, interpret,
and write a report on the WAIS-V.
Unethical, as the assistant is clearly unqualified to
perform such duties
When regular consultation with a supervisor about a
client is done, what must occur?
The client must be informed that the therapist is being supervised
After a psychologist administers multiple tests to a client, she asks to see the results. What’s the best course of action in such situations?
Provide the client with an oral and written summary of the results in clear, understandable language
If an experimental psychologist wants to become a clinical psychologist, what must s/he do?
Obtain appropriate coursework and experience, including practica and internship
TRUE or FALSE:
Regarding confidentiality in group therapy, group
members are on their own honor to maintain
confidentiality.
TRUE: Group members have no legally or ethically
enforceable obligation to maintain the confidence of
what they hear from other group members
What is the primary purpose of the Specialty Guidelines for the Delivery of Services?
Educate the public and advance the profession
What should a psychologist do if a man being seen in marital therapy requests individual treatment?
He should be referred to another therapist due to potential for conflict between the psychologist’s roles
The primary purpose of the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing is what?
To provide criteria for evaluating whether tests are
properly used
The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing suggest reporting test scores in terms of
________.
Confidence intervals, or percentile bands
A college counselor informed the mother of a 17 y/o of a recent suicide attempt he made. The counselor contended she was acting in the client’s best interest in light of his refusal to seek professional help. Were the
counselor’s actions ethical?
According to the Ethics Code, yes, because the
student is a minor at risk of suicide
Generally, protecting the welfare of the public is their
primary purpose.
State licensing boards
TRUE or FALSE:
When a grievance is file, state boards
can provide you feedback on performance on specific
questions of the EPPP.
FALSE: They can provide one’s score, the passing score, the mean, standard deviation, and other
descriptive information
It is ________ and ________ to sell questions that
appear on the licensing exam.
Illegal and unethical, as it violates both test security and copyright laws
If a psychologist undertakes an experiment that might
have some negative adverse side-effects to participants but still feels the possible findings are worth the risk, she should:
Seek approval from the appropriate Institutional
Review Board (IRB) and inform participants of all
potential risks via informed consent
What should be done if, after evaluating a high school
student who is having conflicts with a teacher, a psychologist concludes the teacher, rather than the student, needs psychological attention?
Talk to the teacher alone in order to safeguard the teachers rights and minimize harm or embarrassment
It is ________ for a university professor to omit areas of research in a course he’s teaching because the research does not fit well with his orientation and does not support his theory.
Unethical as the professor’s behavior is likely to
mislead students
A psychologist opening a mental health clinic in a rural area serving a Native American population would be
well-advised to:
Include medicine men from the tribe as consultants and mediators
A psychologist in a rural community is asked to treat a
man with Agoraphobia. While the psychologist has treated other anxiety disorders, she has never treated Agoraphobia. She should:
Treat the woman while making reasonable effort to obtain the competence required by using relevant
research, training, consultation, or study
A psychologist is ethically required to ________ after
completing testing with a client.
Provide appropriate explanation of results
What should a psychologist do if a person in an emergency situation presents to therapy for an issue the psychologist has no relevant experience working with?
Meet with the person but refer to a more qualified psychologist as soon as possible, or when the emergency has ended
Is it ethical for a psychologist to routinely administer personality tests during the initial phase of a treatment
relationship?
No, this is unethical, as there must be a valid reason for testing
During the third psychotherapy session with a client the psychologist realizes the client is the principal at his daughter’s school. What should he do?
Discuss the situation with the client and assess whether the dual relationship could be expected to impair objectivity, competence, or effectiveness or result in client exploitation or harm
As a psychologist, you are asked by the attorney of a
mother to evaluate the mother and her child, however the child lives with the father, who is the custodial parent. What should you do?
Determine if the father knows about and has consented
to the evaluation
Psychologists who provide services over the internet
must inform clients of ________.
The risks to privacy
What conditions are required for a graduate psychology program to require students to participate in psychotherapy?
- Students are given the option of receiving therapy from practitioners unaffiliated with the program;
- Faculty with evaluative authority must not provide the therapy;
- The requirement must be clearly described in the program’s description
A psychologist will receive a ________ from the Ethics Committee if his/her actions are unethical but the consequences are minor.
Reprimand
This term refers to negligent failure, resulting in harm to the client, to meet the duty to a client that arises out of a professional relationship.
Malpractice
What might the Ethics Committee do if a psychologist’s actions cause harm and are deliberate or persistent?
Censure
What are the 4 stages of the ethical complaint process?
Inquiry, Investigation, Adjudication, Appeal
The Ethics Committee recommends ________
in cases where a psychologist’s behavior is both unethical and harmful.
Time-limited resignation
If a psychologist’s offense is inappropriate but not clearly unethical, they are likely to be ________ by the Ethics Committee, whereas they will receive a _______ if the behavior is unethical.
Advised; Warning
If a psychologist’s offense is so injurious and severe
that s/he is deemed unrehabilitable, the Ethics
Committee is likely to recommend ________.
Expulsion
