Ethics & Professional Issues

Question 0

What is cited by psychologists as the greatest source of stress?

Answer 0

Lack of therapeutic success.

Question 1

What are the four elements that must be present to find malpractice?

Answer 1

1. Professional relationship that involves a duty of care
2. A breach of that duty (failure to practice according to reasonable standard of care)
3. Harm or injury occurred
4. The breach of duty caused the harm or injury.

Question 2

What issue is most often given by psychologists as an ethically troubling issue?

Answer 2

Confidentiality.

Question 3

What do psychologists describe as the most troublesome client behavior?

Answer 3

Suicidal statements.

Question 4

What is the most frequent co-occurring ethical lapse among psychologists who have engaged in sexual intimacies with clients?

Answer 4

Multiple relationships of other (non-sexual) types (according to Ken Pope’s surveys).

Question 5

What does the APA Ethical Standards say about contingent fees?

Answer 5

Psychologists should not enter into contingent fee arrangements under any circumstances. This includes forgiving a fee if the outcome of a legal action is not favorable. Delaying billing is not prohibited.

Question 6

What are the two most important ethical mandates for child custody evaluations?

Answer 6

1. Determining the “best interests” of the child is the only legitimate purpose of a child custody evaluation.
2. Avoid engaging in multiple relationships that might reduce competence or effectiveness, or expose individuals to harm or exploitation.

Question 7

According to Ken Pope’s research, what is the “typical” demographic of the psychologist who engages in sexual relationships with clients?

Answer 7

Male (97%) with an average age (“Expected age”) of 42.

Question 8

According to Ken Pope’s research, what is the demographic profile of the client with whom a psychologist becomes sexually intimate?

Answer 8

Female (97%) with an average age (“Expected age”) of 32.

Question 9

What is the sequence of responsibilities that a psychologist must consider in resolving ethical conflicts or dilemmas (i.e., whose needs come first)?

Answer 9

The “4 P’s” - The Patient (client) comes first, followed by the Public, the Profession, and the Psychologist.

Question 10

In general, when does someone who calls you seeking services become a client?

Answer 10

When you schedule an appointment.

Question 11

What degree of confidentiality and assistance does a psychologist owe to a person sitting in the waiting room to see another clinician?

Answer 11

Confidentiality should be respected to the degree feasible, and assistance should be offered to the extent it would be offered to a member of the public.

Question 12

If you saw a fellow psychologist engaging in sexual activity with someone who is known to you but is not your client, what are your responsibilities under the Ethical Standards?

Answer 12

You are not obligated to make a report. You must not breach the patient’s confidentiality. If you choose to make a report, you must name the colleague. If you choose not to make a report, you must still do something proactive, at a minimum discussing it with the colleague.

Question 13

What four main points distinguish supervision from consultation?

Answer 13

1. Supervision includes a power differential between the supervisor and supervisee.
2. A supervisor has vicarious liability and a consultant does not.
3. A supervisor must be in the same field as the supervisee, while a consultant does not need to be (e.g., a nurse can consult with a psychologist and vice versa).
4. Supervision requires informed consent from the client, and consultation does not.

Question 14

How does a psychologist become an expert witness?

Answer 14

By being approved by the court.

Question 15

What does it mean to say that a client is not competent to stand trial?

Answer 15

The client is not able to comprehend the proceedings taking place in court, i.e., cannot consult with his or her lawyer with a reasonable degree of comprehension of the proceedings against him or her.

Question 16

According to an APA study, what percentage of subpoenas are invalid or served improperly?

Answer 16

Half.

Question 17

When does a request for records become no longer subject to withholding by a psychologist in order to protect a client’s confidentiality?

Answer 17

When a judge issues a valid order.

Question 18

If a subpoena is served to a psychologist along with a signed release of information from the client, what must a psychologist do?

Answer 18

(1) Do not release any information until it has been determined that the subpoena is valid, and (2) Assert or claim privilege until you have discussed the situation with the client to determine what best protects the client’s interests.

Question 19

What sections of the APA Ethical Standards are aspirational (i.e., not enforceable)?

Answer 19

The preamble and general principles.

Question 20

What portion of a psychologist’s time is required by the Ethical Code to be pro-bono work?

Answer 20

None. Pro-bono work is recommended (“…should donate a portion of his/her time for little or no remuneration”) in the General Principles, but is not mentioned in the Ethical Code.

Question 21

What does the section of the Ethical Standards concerning “unfair discrimination about complainants and respondents” require when a clinic director is reviewing a psychologist for a merit raise or promotion and complaints are brought against that person?

Answer 21

The merit raise may not be delayed or withheld because of the complaint. The personnel decision and the ethical complaint must be handled separately.

Question 22

in terms of boundaries of competence, what type of added psychological service requires supervision, and what type would require added training only?

Answer 22

A “sophisticated test or technique” requires supervision (this may take the form of graduate courses with supervised practice). Screening instruments and data-gathering tools do not require supervision and may be used with training or instruction.

Question 23

If a psychologist is called upon in an emergency situation (when no one else is available) to provide services that exceed his or her boundaries of competence, how long must the psychologist continue to provide those services?

Answer 23

Until they can be replaced by someone who has the appropriate competence.

Question 24

If a psychologist is experiencing a personal problem that may cause a loss of effectiveness in providing services, should the psychologist disclose the situation to his or her clients, seek supervision, self-monitor, or seek consultation?

Answer 24

Seek consultation. (Supervision involves adding another person to the relationship which would require the client’s consent. Disclosure could create more harm than the personal problem itself, since it is not necessarily true that the personal problem has led to a harmful effect. Self-monitoring alone does not meet the standards of due care, because the personal problem could impair judgement).

Question 25

In a situation in which a conflict in personal values exists between a psychologist and a client, what is the best course of action?

Answer 25

1. Do not push your values onto your client.
2. Do not abandon your client. If you can keep seeing the client by seeking consultation, do so.
3. If you cannot resolve the situation through consultation, make a referral and make sure there is no interruption of treatment.

Question 26

If a client discloses a past crime that involved harm to another person, what must a psychologist do?

Answer 26

Maintain the client’s confidentiality.

Question 27

If the police come to the door of a psychologist and have a warrant for the arrest of a client, what must the psychologist do?

Answer 27

Do not indicate whether or not the person is a client, and protect the client’s confidentiality.

Question 28

If, when buying a home, a psychologist discovers that the seller is a client, what must the psychologist do?

Answer 28

Withdraw from the purchase, even if it means a financial loss, because it is a multiple relationship. This is true even if it was an anonymous deal in which the seller’s identity was not known (until the closing, for example).

Question 29

What length of time do the APA Ethical Standards require for record retention?

Answer 29

7 years (for adults), and 3 years after the client reaches age 18 (for children). NOTE: State laws and other contractual requirements (e.g., managed care) may be greater.

Question 30

What are the two research situations in which informed consent is not required from participants?

Answer 30

Archival data research and naturalistic observation.