Ethics and Professional Practice

Question 1

A psychologist receives a request for information about treatment for a patient from the patient’s insurance carrier. The request for a treatment report includes the appropriate signed authorization from the patient. The psychologist should:
Select one:
A. not provide the information because this is still an unsettled issue.
B. provide only the dates of service and the diagnosis.
C. refuse the request unless the patient himself or herself asks that it be sent.
D. provide the information requested.

Answer 1

Correct Answer is: D
This ethics question will have some of you stumped unless you deal with these types of clinical situations regularly. In practice, clinicians often get requests for information, especially with insurance companies using managed-care organizations to approve visits. Similar authorizations are necessary when information is released from a hospital, from a clinic, and so forth. The confidentiality of information belongs to the patient. It is up to him or her to waive that confidentiality, as we assume he or she has done by signing the release. In addition, such authorizations should specify the type and extent of information that the patient authorizes to be released, for what purposes, and to whom.

Question 2

Which of the following sections of the 2002 Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct “discusses the intent, organization, procedural considerations, and scope of application of the Ethics Code.”
Select one:
A. Introduction only
B. Introduction and Preamble
C. Preamble only
D. General Principles and Ethical Standards

Answer 2

Correct Answer is: A
The 2002 Ethics Code is divided into four sections: Introduction, Preamble, General Principles, and Ethical Standards. The Introduction “discusses the intent, organization, procedural considerations, and scope of application of the Ethics Code.” The purpose of both the Preamble and General Principles is to provide “aspirational goals to guide psychologists toward the highest ideals of psychology.” The Ethical Standards “set forth enforceable rules.”

Question 3

You have been court-ordered to evaluate a prisoner who is being tried for murder. You explain the purpose of the evaluation and complete it. As you are packing up your testing materials, the prisoner smirks, and says, “I agreed to this but I didn’t sign anything. You are out of luck, doctor.”
Select one:
A. You should go ahead and complete the report, but leave out the prisoner’s comments.
B. The prisoner is correct – you should refer for a new assessment.
C. You should add this verbal comment to the report, noting the prisoner’s passive-aggressive tendencies.
D. You should have read the case file because you would have learned that the accused is also an attorney; this would affect how you would treat this prisoner.

Answer 3

Correct Answer is: A
Because this evaluation was court-ordered you were not actually required to obtain informed consent. However Standard IV.E.1 of the Speciality Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists states that “if the client appears unwilling to proceed after receiving a thorough notification of the purposes, methods, and intended uses of the forensic evaluation, the psychologist should take steps to place the client in contact with his or her attorney for the purpose of legal advice on the issue of participation.” Remember, you always want to take the most careful and conservative approach if possible.
You should add this verbal comment to the report, noting the prisoner’s passive-aggressive tendencies.

While you may be tempted to choose this option and add the client’s comments to your report, this would contradict Standard V.C. of the Forensic Guidelines which states that, “In situations where the right of the client to confidentiality is limited, the forensic psychologist makes every effort to maintain confidentiality with regard to any information that does not bear directly upon the legal purpose of the evaluation.”

You should have read the case file because you would have learned that the accused is also an attorney; this would affect how you would treat this prisoner.

Finally, as a thorough evaluator you should have read the case file closely; however, you would not proceed with an evaluation differently just because your client is an attorney.

Question 4

Question ID #133: You have been retained by the court to make a recommendation concerning custody of a 4 year old girl. You have met with the mother on two occasions and also administered some psychological tests. You have completed a phone interview with the father who lives out of state. In reporting to the court, you should
Select one:
A. explain that you cannot present any data.
B. recommend custody go to the parent you have determined is most competent to parent.
C. present the results of your evaluation but refrain from making a recommendation.
D. make a recommendation, but note that your evaluation of the father was incomplete.

Answer 4

Correct Answer is: C
present the results of your evaluation but refrain from making a recommendation.
This is another question where it is tempting to do more than you are qualified to do. This answer is correct; Standard 9.01(b) states that “psychologists provide opinions of the psychological characteristics of individuals only after they have conducted an examination of the individuals adequate to support their statements or conclusions. When, despite reasonable efforts, such an examination is not practical, psychologists document the efforts they made and the result of those efforts, clarify the probable impact of their limited information on the reliability and validity of their opinions, and appropriately limit the nature and extent of their conclusions or recommendations.” A phone conversation is not a psychological evaluation.

make a recommendation, but note that your evaluation of the father was incomplete.

You may have chosen this response, but it is pertinent to ask yourself the question that if you could not make a complete evaluation why would you make a recommendation.

Question 5

Situations that legally permit a waiver of the privilege:
Select one:
A. differ from state to state.
B. differ from state to state only in situations when clients are involuntarily hospitalized.
C. do not differ from state to state when clients are involuntarily hospitalized.
D. do not differ from state to state

Answer 5

Correct Answer is: A
Legally-defined exceptions to privilege varies from state to state. However, most, if not all, states, waive privilege when a psychologist is acting in a court-appointed capacity; a client initiates a malpractice or other lawsuit against a therapist; a client has introduced a mental condition as a defense in a civil suit; a client has sought the assistance of a therapist solely for the purpose of committing a crime; and a therapist determines that a client is in need of hospitalization for a mental or psychological disorder.

Question 6

You have been treating a client for six months, and the original problem the client sought treatment for is in remission. The client tells you that he wants to terminate. You, however, are reluctant to terminate because you believe that the client can benefit from further psychotherapy. In this situation, you should:
Select one:
A. terminate in line with the client’s wishes, since the client’s presenting problem is solved. Incorrect
B. seek consultation.
C. discuss the client’s reasons for wanting to terminate.
D. discuss the reasons why you feel he shouldn’t terminate, and, if he still wants to terminate, allow him to do so.

Answer 6

Feedback
Correct Answer is: D
Even though you might not have too much difficulty handling this situation in real life, this question might have been difficult because none of the choices is clearly “wrong.”
discuss the reasons why you feel he shouldn’t terminate, and, if he still wants to terminate, allow him to do so.

This is the best answer – it’s in the client’s best interests that you explain why you feel he should not terminate, but, if he chooses to do so, you must respect his right to self-determination.

terminate in line with the client’s wishes, since the client’s presenting problem is solved.

This choice does not include your explaining your concerns to the client, so it is not as good.

seek consultation.

You might have been seduced by this option, because seeking consultation is never a bad thing to do, but it is not necessary in this common and relatively straightforward situation.

discuss the client’s reasons for wanting to terminate.

Similarly, when clients want to terminate, it’s always important to discuss their reasons, as stated by this choice. In this case, however, the client’s reasons are pretty clear – the problem for which he sought therapy is solved.

Question 7

A psychologist sees clients at a facility where fees are capitated. What does this mean?
Select one:
A. providers are paid a fee each time a service is performed
B. clients are billed according to their ability to pay
C. clients are required to meet a deductible before their insurance will pay
D. providers receive a fixed dollar amount over a specific period of time to cover the service needs of a fixed number of clients

Answer 7

Correct Answer is: D
The term “capitation” refers to a fixed amount of money paid per person, not by the visit or procedure. Managed care companies usually express capitation in terms of cost per member per month.
providers receive a fixed dollar amount over a specific period of time to cover the service needs of a fixed number of clients

As stated in this response, providers are paid a specific dollar amount, for a specific time period, to cover the service needs of a specific number of people. If a provider exceeds his or her capitated payment, he or she may not be able to cover his or her costs and, consequently, may limit his or her services.

Question 8

The purpose of APA’s Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing is to
Select one:
A. provide guidelines for establishing the reliability and validity of tests.
B. provide criteria for the evaluation of tests.
C. provide guidelines for the use of tests in various settings such as psychotherapy, the workplace, and the courtroom.
D. offer psychologists instructions and advice regarding the proper way to administer tests.

Answer 8

Correct Answer is: B
The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing is a set of guidelines published jointly by the American Psychological Association, the American Educational Research Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education. The most recent version of the Standards, published in 1999, provides 15 sets of guidelines divided into three parts: Test Construction, Evaluation, and Documentation; Fairness in Testing; and Testing Applications. Their purpose, according to the introduction, is to “provide criteria for the evaluation of tests, testing practices, and the effects of test use.”

Question 9

Utilization review, an important component of managed health care, refers to the idea that it is useful to
Select one:
A. review benefits to eliminate or reduce unnecessary health care resources.
B. determine the adequacy of health care standards by comparing them to predetermined standards.
C. make decisions on patient care by a team of medical experts rather than an individual physician.
D. allow a patient to choose from several insurance plans.

Answer 9

Correct Answer is: A
Utilization review is concerned with conserving health care monies. It does this through having a utilization review committee assess the use of benefits and reduce or eliminate inappropriate or unnecessary use of health care resources.
determine the adequacy of health care standards by comparing them to predetermined standards.

This option is a description of the concept of quality assurance.

make decisions on patient care by a team of medical experts rather than an individual physician.

This option is describing a medical team management approach to individual health care.

Question 10

The difference between the General Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services and the Ethical Principles of Psychologists is that the former:
Select one:
A. deals with delivery of services to consumers, and the latter with ethics in general.
B. deals with clinical practice, and the latter with ethics in general.
C. deals with consumers, and the latter with providers of psychological services.
D. is a case analysis of the latter.

Answer 10

Correct Answer is: A
This is a fundamental distinction. The Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct covers the actions and responsibilities of all APA members in teaching, research, clinical work, testing, private practice, administration, government, industry, etc. It’s the basic standard of ethics for all of us. The General Guidelines, and the spin off known as Specialty Guidelines, apply only to those psychologists who work in clinical, counseling, school, and industrial psychology. Note that these guidelines apply to the work, not to the person. Hence a research social psychologist who finds herself working as the director of a mental health center now finds her work falling under the province of the General Guidelines.
deals with clinical practice, and the latter with ethics in general.

deals with consumers, and the latter with providers of psychological services.

Now if you go back to the question you’ll see why the correct option is a better answer than these two options. The General Guidelines refer to all the work of applied psychology and this is subsumed best under correct answer. This choice (“deals with clinical practice, and the latter with ethics in general”) mentions only clinical practice, which is only part of what is covered by the Guidelines. And this choice (“deals with consumers, and the latter with providers of psychological services”) mentions only consumers, which again isn’t quite right: the General Guidelines deal also with agencies, private concerns in industrial areas, third-party payers such as insurance companies, etc.

Question 11

You have been working with a couple in marital therapy for four months, with slow but notable progress. After a session one day, the wife pulls you aside and asks to make some individual appointments with you. You should
Select one:
A. refer her to another therapist.
B. wait until the completion of marital therapy and then see her individually.
C. terminate with the couple and see the woman individually.
D. encourage her to discuss any relevant issues within the context of marital therapy.

Answer 11

Correct Answer is: A
There is a potential for role conflict when a client in conjoint therapy asks you to see him or her individually. It’s possible that there may be a conflict between your considerations as a couple’s therapist and as an individual therapist. Thus, although your actions would vary depending on the parameters of the individual case, the best answer in light of the information we have is to refer the woman to another therapist for individual therapy.

Question 12

The Security Rule in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) applies specifically to the privacy of
Select one:
A. medical information.
B. electronic information.
C. psychotherapy records.
D. insurance records.

Answer 12

Correct Answer is: B
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996. It is a broad law covering both the portability of health insurance coverage for workers when they lose their jobs or change jobs, and also standards, including privacy, of health care related information. HIPAA includes regulations covering all four of the choices in this question, but the Security Rule applies specifically to electronic information. The rule, which took effect in 2006, lays out administrative, physical, and technical safeguards of Protected Health Information which is stored in electronic form. Protected information includes that related to an individual’s past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition; the provision of health care to an individual; and payment for health care for an individual.

Question 13

You are treating a client, a five-year old girl, with the consent of her father. After five sessions, you receive a call from the girl’s mother, who tells you that she is the custodial parent, that the father is a non-custodial parent, and that she doesn’t want her daughter seeing you for therapy. You believe that it’s in the girl’s best interest to continue treatment. Assuming that the mother’s statement is truthful, you should:
Select one:
A. terminate therapy immediately.
B. refuse to stop therapy, since it’s in the girl’s best interest to continue.
C. urge the mother to consent to a few additional sessions, so you can terminate appropriately with the child.
D. tell the mother to work out the problem with the father, but in the meantime, continue to see the girl for therapy.

Answer 13

Correct Answer is: C
This is a good example of a conflict between ethical and legal obligations. Your ethical obligation is to serve the best interests of the child, but legally, you cannot proceed with treatment if the custodial parent does not give you consent to do so. The Ethics Code is instructive in such situations: Standard 1.02 states that “If psychologists’ ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations, or other governing legal authority, psychologists make known their commitment to the Ethics Code and take steps to resolve the conflict. If the conflict is unresolvable via such means, psychologists may adhere to the requirements of the law, regulations, or other governing legal authority.” Thus, you could not just terminate without attempting to advocate for the patient; you also could not continue to treat the child without the mother’s consent, because violating the law is not consistent with resolving the conflict in a responsible manner. Thus, your best option is to explain to the mother why you believe that immediate termination could harm the child and urge her to let you continue seeing the girl for a few more sessions.

Question 14

A psychiatrist sends you a release for information from a former patient of yours requesting records that are seven years old. In this situation, you should
Select one:
A. send the records as requested.
B. send the records with a cover letter explaining the limitations of the records.
C. refuse to send the records.
D. contact the patient to make sure he or she understands the ramifications of the situation.

Answer 14

Correct Answer is: B
It is your responsibility to take steps to prevent the misuse of potentially obsolete data. At the same time, access to these records could facilitate the psychiatrist’s work with your client, and the client does have the right to request the records. Thus, a cover letter explaining the limitations of the records (i.e., they are old and probably obsolete at least to some degree) is the way to go here.

Question 15

The mother of a 3-year old has been told her daughter is very gifted. She wants to encourage the child’s abilities and asks you, a school psychologist, to assess the girl’s IQ score level and suggest a plan for her future education. You should:
Select one:
A. comply with the request.
B. comply with the request, but inform the mother that test results at this age are not very valid as predictors of future performance.
C. suggest that the test not be given, but agree to help the mother in deciding on the future educational plans for her child.
D. inform the mother that there are no standardized valid tests available for children of such a young age.

Answer 15

Correct Answer is: B
In this case there is nothing wrong with you testing the child and tests are available. But you should also use your knowledge and judgment to counsel the mother about the use of tests for such a young child. While it’s true that there is some predictive validity for intelligence tests starting at about 18 months to 2 years of age, you should still tell the mother that many things will determine her daughter’s future school performance and that we can’t be so sure she will continue as she presently is.

Question 16

During the course of a research experiment, subjects witness someone who is apparently hurt, needing immediate help, and are unable to help or know if the person is assisted. The subjects become immediately distressed. In this situation:
Select one:
A. debriefing occurs at the conclusion of participation
B. group debriefing occurs at the conclusion of collection of data
C. debriefing occurs when subjects become distressed
D. debriefing occurs at the conclusion of research

Answer 16

Feedback
Correct Answer is: A
This question involves deception in research, distress and debriefing. Due to the use of deception and the resultant participant distress, debriefing immediately following participation is the best option as described by Standard 8.07(c) Deception in Research: “Psychologists explain any deception that is an integral feature of the design and conduct of an experiment to participants as early as is feasible, preferably at the conclusion of their participation, but no later than at the conclusion of the data collection.” The Ethics Code on Debriefing, Standard 8.08(a), notes, “Psychologists provide a prompt opportunity for participants to obtain appropriate information about the nature, results, and conclusions of the research, and they take reasonable steps to correct any misconceptions that participants may have of which the psychologists are aware,” and in Standard 8.08(c) “When psychologists become aware that research procedures have harmed a participant, they take reasonable steps to minimize the harm.”

Question 17

A psychologist is asked by the attorney for the father in a divorce procedure to determine, in his expert opinion, which parent is better able to care for the children. The father is in the same state as the psychologist but the mother is in a distant state. The psychologist should
Select one:
A. agree to evaluate the father and give his opinion as requested as long as the conclusions are not influenced by who pays the fee.
B. evaluate the father but not send the report until asked for it by the judge.
C. evaluate the children and both parents before giving such an opinion.
D. refuse to accept this work since there can be no firm predictions made as to which parent would be better able to care for the children.

Answer 17

Correct Answer is: C
The basic principle is that you can’t give an opinion as to which parent will be better able to care for the children unless you interview both parents and the children. Otherwise, all you can attest to is your findings about the psychological health of whomever you evaluate. You can’t, if you only see one of the parents, opine as to which one is better: You’d have no basis to come to such a conclusion.

Question 18

Which of the following infractions accounts for the largest percentage of malpractice costs?
Select one:
A. lack of competence
B. breach of confidentiality
C. sexual contact with clients
D. improper billing practices

Answer 18

Feedback
Correct Answer is: C
The infraction that accounts for the greatest proportion of malpractice claims depends on how the infractions are categorized. However, regardless of the way that malpractice claims are grouped, sex with clients is always the infraction that accounts for the greatest insurance costs, with reported figures ranging from 45 to 50%.

Question 19

With parental consent, a psychologist has been providing therapy to a 12-year-old boy for a couple of months. Unexpectedly, both parents suddenly withdraw their consent. The psychologist believes that continuing therapy is in the best interests of the boy. The psychologist’s best course of action would be to:
Select one:
A. seek judicial intervention
B. obtain a signed consent from the girl and continue treatment
C. stop the treatment because both parents have withdrawn their consent but provide them with referrals to other therapists
D. continue to see the girl without the parents’ consent

Answer 19

A is the answer

Question 20

A psychologist has been treating a child in play therapy for several months and is asked to testify in a court case involving custody of the child. The psychologist should:
Select one:
A. testify only if he can evaluate all involved parties
B. testify only about objective facts
C. decline to testify
D. testify as requested

Answer 20

Correct Answer is: C

It is in the child’s best interests for the psychologist to refrain from testifying because he has an established therapeutic relationship with the child and his role in this situation should be to provide the child with support during the custody battle.
testify only if he can evaluate all involved parties

If the psychologist did not have a relationship with one of the involved parties or had a past (rather than present) relationship with an involved party, this response would describe the best response.

Question 21

A psychologist is working for a company that changes health care providers due to cost-effectiveness. The new provider has a policy that compromises the employee’s future limits to confidentiality. The psychologist should
Select one:
A. refuse to follow the new procedures and leave immediately.
B. outline her points of dissatisfaction and send it to the new provider.
C. make clear with each client the company’s new limits to confidentiality.
D. organize a strike and call CNN.

Answer 21

Correct Answer is: C
According to Standard 3.11 (Psychological Services Delivered To or Through Organizations), “Psychologists delivering services to or through organizations provide information beforehand to clients and when appropriate those directly affected by the services about (1) the nature and objectives of the services, (2) the intended recipients, (3) which of the individuals are clients, (4) the relationship the psychologist will have with each person and the organization, (5) the probable uses of services provided and information obtained, (6) who will have access to the information, and (7) limits of confidentiality. As soon as feasible, they provide information about the results and conclusions of such services to appropriate persons.”
refuse to follow the new procedures and leave immediately.

If you choose this answer and leave abruptly, you are abandoning your client.

outline her points of dissatisfaction and send it to the new provider.

You may also want to do this-outline your points of dissatisfaction-but this wouldn’t be your first or most important consideration.

Question 22

A client of yours has recently filed a suit against her employer for sex discrimination. You receive a subpoena from the employer’s attorney requesting you to appear at a deposition and to bring the client’s file. When you contact the client, she tells you she doesn’t want you to provide any information about the things she has talked about in therapy. Your best course of action is to:
Select one:
A. provide the requested information since privilege is waived in this situation.
B. provide only the information you believe is relevant to the case.
C. appear at the deposition as requested but refuse to provide information about the woman.
D. discuss the situation with the employer’s attorney before the date of the deposition.

Answer 22

Correct Answer is: D
This situation is a common question on the exam, and resolving the issue is not always simple. Certainly, a psychologist could assert the privilege at a deposition but a better initial step would be to contact the employer’s attorney to discuss the possibility of withdrawing the request for information (or limiting the kind of information that is required) before the deposition.

Question 23

Based on the description of test fairness in APA’s Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, which of the following is not necessarily an indicator of unfairness in test use?
Select one:
A. a test measures a construct not relevant to what it purports to measure, resulting in one group consistently scoring lower than another.
B. access to the test center is easier to obtain for one subgroup than for another.
C. minority group members do not succeed on an employee selection test at the same rate as majority group members.
D. on a prediction test, errors in prediction consistently occur for members of a particular minority group.

Answer 23

Correct Answer is: C
According to APA’s Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, test fairness is a general social concept, not a psychometric one, and is therefore difficult to describe in precise terms. The Standards provide multiple meanings of the term–for instance, it can refer to equitable treatment of all examinees in terms of testing conditions such as access to a test center and practice materials. In psychometric terms, test unfairness is usually defined as either measurement bias (“a test measures a construct not relevant to what it purports to measure, resulting in one group consistently scoring lower than another”) or predictive bias (“minority group members do not succeed on an employee selection test at the same rate as majority group members”) systematically lowering the scores of a particular subgroup. In measurement bias, the test measures a construct not relevant to its stated purpose, with the result of lower of scores for a given subgroup.
An example would be a math test on which scores are systematically lower for people whose first language is not English, due to the wording of the questions. In predictive bias, errors of prediction consistently occur for a particular subgroup. An example would be an employment selection test on which African-Americans consistently score lower than Caucasians even though both groups perform equally well on the job.

The Standards explicitly reject a definition of test fairness based solely on equal outcome (i.e., “minority group members do not succeed on an employee selection test at the same rate as majority group members”). If members of a minority group do not succeed on an employee selection test at the same rate of majority group members, the test would not be unfair unless the job performance of both groups did not reflect this difference in test scores.

Question 24

You have been court ordered to complete an evaluation. As you start the evaluation, the client begins sharing information that she obviously would not want shared further. You should:
Select one:
A. Say nothing and remain objective
B. Refer her to a different psychologist
C. Advise her that the information she is giving you is not pertinent
D. Reexplain the limits of confidentiality before proceeding

Answer 24

Correct Answer is: D
Remember, that in this case the client is the court. And you are ethically bound to behave appropriately with all involved parties. You should have already explained the limits of confidentiality before beginning the evaluation; however, it is perfectly appropriate and most ethical to stop and re-clarify the limits of confidentiality.

Question 25

You are having lunch with a colleague, Dr. O. Timer, who has been a clinical psychologist for over 25 years. You and Dr. Timer start talking about the aspects of your work that are most distressful. Like many psychologists, Dr. Timer mentions that, most often, the ethical dilemmas he encounters in his practice are related to:
Select one:
A. deciding when it is acceptable to breach client confidentiality.
B. dealing with the sexual advances of his female clients.
C. providing accurate information to insurance companies.
D. knowing when to continue versus terminate therapy with a client who doesn’t seem to be improving.

Answer 25

Correct Answer is: A
Surveys have been conducted to determine what issues psychotherapists have the most difficulty with at work. When asked what ethical/legal issue they encounter most frequently, confidentiality is cited most often.

Question 26

The mother of a 9-year old client of yours asks you to testify at an upcoming custody hearing. Since you have been working with the child for the past 6 months she believes you are best suited to make a recommendation regarding the custody arrangements. You should:
Select one:
A. agree to the request only if both parents sign a consent
B. agree to the request only if you are able to evaluate both parents
C. agree to the request but base your opinion on the best interests of the child
D. refuse to testify

Answer 26

Correct Answer is: D
APA’s Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Divorce Proceedings state that psychologists must avoid multiple relationships. Since you already have a therapeutic relationship with the child you should avoid assuming an evaluative role in the custody case.

Question 27

A 15-year-old boy is referred to the school psychologist by his teacher. The boy has recently been acting out in class, not finishing his coursework, as well as talking and joking during instruction. Although initially apprehensive to speak with the psychologist, the boy reveals that he is upset because his parents have been fighting for a few months as his father is angry at his mother for not working outside the home. His father has also been threatening to leave. The boy tells the psychologist his parents are private people and that he doesn’t want anyone else to know about this situation. Following the session, the referring teacher inquires what the boy said so that they can create a plan to help the boy. The psychologist should:
Select one:
A. inform the teacher of what the boy shared because he referred the boy
B. inform the teacher of what the boy shared because he will use it to help the boy
C. inform the teacher of what the boy shared because they need to cooperate in helping the boy and both work at the same school
D. initially withhold what the boy shared from the teacher and speak to his or her supervisor

Answer 27

Correct Answer is: D
Because the question doesn’t say anything about the policies or procedures at this school regarding the disclosure of confidential information to school personnel, you need to rely on the APA or CPA Code of Ethics to answer this question correctly. The Code of Ethics requires psychologists to maintain their clients’ confidentiality, unless they have appropriate permission to disclose information; the safety of the client or someone else is at risk; or a law mandates them to disclose information; and minors, like adults, are entitled to a confidential relationship with their psychologist. Additionally, this boy has explicitly told the psychologist that he doesn’t want anyone else to know about what’s going on at home. Therefore, the best answer we have available is that the psychologist should not tell the teacher what the boy disclosed. The psychologist may also want to talk to his or her supervisor to verify that the decision was right and determine what to do next. (Additional information: With a younger, school-age child, a psychologist has greater latitude in making this kind of decision: Under the parens partiae doctrine, a psychologist would have an obligation to act in the child’s best interests, meaning that she might decide to share information with the teacher or some other relevant party.)

Question 28

When a psychologist believes that her patient’s records will be used in a legal proceeding, she should:
Select one:
A. rewrite them to meet the higher standards of a forensic setting
B. avoid the use of any psychological terminology in favor of legal terminology
C. maintain them in the same kind and quality as all of her patients’ records
D. maintain them in the kind and quality consistent with reasonable scrutiny in an adjudicative forum

Answer 28

Correct Answer is: D
According to the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists (1991), “When forensic psychologists conduct an evaluation or engage in the treatment of a party to a legal proceeding, with foreknowledge that their professional services will be used in an adjudicative forum, they incur a special responsibility to provide the best documentation possible under the circumstances.”

Question 29

You have been asked by your client’s attorney to serve as a fact witness in a court proceeding. Your client, the plaintiff, suffered a serious physical injury in the workplace and has since experienced significant emotional problems as a result of the injury. You have been working with the client for the past several months. During your testimony, you are asked by the plaintiff’s attorney if, in your opinion, the client’s emotional problems are directly related to the injury. You should:
Select one:
A. provide the information as long as you have sufficient data to support your opinion.
B. provide the information only if the plaintiff has waived her right to confidentiality.
C. not provide the information unless ordered to do so by the court.
D. provide the information, but note any possible limitations to your opinion.

Answer 29

Correct Answer is: C
The key term in this question is that you are a “fact witness”. Unlike an expert witness who can offer opinions, a fact witness, as its name implies, can only testify about facts. A psychologist, while serving as a fact witness, could give an opinion, but only if ordered by the court and any opinions should be qualified by a statement about its limitations.

Question 30

You are hired by a company to evaluate applicants and current employees for the purposes of hiring, promotion, training, and termination. You are told that the company has applicants and employees sign a waiver of confidentiality prior to seeing you. Which of the following best describes your best course of action in this situation?
Select one:
A. You should tell the employer that the company’s policy violates your ethical obligations and refuse to do the evaluations until the policy is changed.
B. You should conduct the evaluations but provide the employer only with information that is directly relevant to the purpose of the evaluation.
C. You should discuss the impact of the waiver with applicants and employees and see if they want to continue with the evaluation process.
D. You should provide the employer with any requested information since applicants and employees have already signed a waiver of confidentiality

Answer 30

Correct Answer is: C
In any situation, a general waiver is not the best approach. Waivers should be specific in terms of the kind of information that will be revealed.
You should discuss the impact of the waiver with applicants and employees and see if they want to continue with the evaluation process.

You should tell the employer that the company’s policy violates your ethical obligations and refuse to do the evaluations until the policy is changed.

The best answer to this question would probably be some combination of these two options (you’d want to discuss the issue with the employer). However, it’s not necessary to refuse to do the evaluations as long as you discuss the implications of the waiver with the applicants and employees, so the correct response is the best answer.

Question 31

Your client has moved out of state. She has called and left you a voice mail message requesting that you send her records to a new therapist. She leaves her new therapist’s number and address but not her own. You have a current written release from her on file. You note that she has one outstanding balance of $200. You should
Select one:
A. contact the therapist and try to get the client’s number.
B. send all the records.
C. send a summary along with an invoice.
D. send the summary along with an invoice indicating the amount still owed.

Answer 31

Correct Answer is: A
This would be your best choice. It never hurts to take the most conservative approach, which in this case would be to try and contact your client and discuss the situation with her. It will be helpful to know the purpose of the request. Your client has a right to a copy of her records and a right to have them sent to where she chooses, but your best course of action would be to discuss the situation with her. You would not send her bill to another therapist.