General Terms T/F Flashcards
Ignorance of the law is an acceptable legal defense for injuring clients.
False
Clients have the right to sue their clinician for abandonment
True
A client is legally entitled to adequate information from the therapist before the client provides consent to treat.
True
Clinicians should take additional steps, if necessary, to ensure a client’s comprehension of the informed consent contract.
True, This is the therapist’s responsibility, especially for ESL clients.
Couples should be informed that both reconciliation and separation are possible outcomes of therapy.
True
Terminating services in order to pursue a social, financial, or sexual relationship with a client is acceptable.
False, creates a dual relationship.
If a 13 year old seeks and consents for his own treatment, his parents still have a legal right to access his records.
False. If a client is 12 or older, he must sign a ROI even for his own parents to access his records.
A therapist must obtain signed informed consent prior to treatment.
For a minor, True. For an adult, it doesn’t need to be signed.
When treating a couple, the clinician only needs informed consent from one of the individuals.
False
Termination rights for both the clinician and the client should be included in the informed consent.
True. Put in writing advance, part of informed consent.
Legally, fees must be disclosed before the onset of therapy.
True
A therapist should document that they obtained informed consent for treatment from a client.
True
The therapist has an ethical and legal duty to inform clients of possible outcomes of treatment in order to remain within the standard of care.
True
A therapist should obtain a distinct and separate informed consent for the use of any challenging or novel modalities, including any involving touch.
True
The clinician is responsible for providing appropriate referrals for continuity of care when the client initiates termination.
False
Managing confidentiality is a legal and ethical issue.
True
The only exceptions to confidentiality are by a client’s written consent to release information or a legal mandate or legal permission to release information.
True
If a husband calls for information about his wife who is in treatment, the therapist should assert privilege.
False. You’d need an ROI in this situation.
The term privilege relates to the release of information in a legal setting.
True
A therapist is obligated to break confidentiality if there is reasonable suspicion of child abuse.
True
A therapist is obligated to break confidentiality if the client is suicidal.
False. You’d determine the best intervention.
A therapist is mandated to break confidentiality if there is reasonable suspicion of elder abuse
True
If a client has a plan to vandalize someone’s car, the therapist should warn the victim and warn the police.
False, not enough to warrant a Tarasoff.
If a new client indicates signs of hopelessness and depression, a prudent therapist would assess for suicide.
True
If a client makes a serious threat to harm an identifiable other, the therapist must warn the victim.
False. Therapist must warn the police, legally, at minimum. You can warn the victim, but legally you don’t have to.
Someone over the age of 60 is considered an elder.
False, elders re 65 years or older.
Therapists are mandated to report domestic violence.
False.
If a 65-year-old woman shares that her husband hit her, the therapist should report domestic violence to the police.
False, you’d file an APS report
When a clinician faces a legal action against them initiated by the client, the BBS, or a district attorney, the therapist is permitted to break confidentiality.
True
If another clinician contacts you stating that they have a release, you may provide the information requested.
False, you’d need to see a copy of the ROI.
A group confidentiality contract is a good way to clarify clients’ responsibility and protect the clinician.
True
When treating minors, it is the parent who holds privilege.
False, the patient holds privilege.
If an adult client shares they were a victim of child abuse as a minor and the perpetrator still has access to children, the therapist must file a child abuse report.
False. There has to be reasonable suspicion that abuse is currently going on. Having access to children is not enough. Client must suspect current abuse.
Therapists are always required to obtain written consent from a parent or guardian before releasing any confidential information about a minor client.
False. It depends on how old the minor is. If they’re 12 or older, you must get it from the child.
The parent or guardian must provide legal consent for a minor’s treatment if the minor is under 12.
True
It is a therapist’s legal responsibility to make an effort to learn and understand cultural assumptions of their client.
False. Ethical but not legal responsbiility.
Providing false information to an insurance company for the purpose of obtaining treatment is ethically acceptable.
False
Therapists have an ethical responsibility to take reasonable care in maintaining client confidentiality while using electronic devices.
True
If an HIV+ client discloses intent to have unprotected sex with someone, the therapist has a legal duty to warn that individual.
False
When informed of child abuse, a therapist must make an immediate report and follow up with a written report within 24 hours.
False. You must submit a written report in 36 hours.
When informed of elder or dependent adult abuse, a therapist must make the report immediately and follow up with a written report within 3 working days.
False, 2 working days.
When filing a report, the therapist is allowed to share any information about the case that they think is relevant to report.
True
Therapists should document their reasons for filing an abuse report.
True
If a client initiates a lawsuit claiming emotional injury, attorneys for the opposing side are entitled to said client’s records.
True
Privilege is the right of the client to maintain confidentiality regarding the legal system.
True
Privilege is suspended if either client or therapist sues the other.
True
If a lawyer subpoenas a client’s records without a release, and the therapist is unable to contact the client, the therapist should turn over the records.
False, privilege
Professional duty begins as soon as the client enters into an implicit or explicit therapeutic contract.
True
A therapist may provide services without consent for treatment if the client is in a crisis.
True
Therapists have a professional duty to know when a specialist should be utilized.
True
Therapists have a professional duty to know when hospitalization is required.
True
Authorizations to release information must include an end date.
True
Therapists have an ethical professional duty to collaborate or refer to improve and protect the health and wellbeing of their client.
True
A Tarasoff condition only exists if a client expresses a serious threat to harm an identifiable victim.
False. You can also use outside information or clinical judgment based on information observed in therapy. Example, a disgruntled ex-husband with hx of violence whose mother calls you about concerns.
A therapist is not mandated to report consensual sex between minors when they are between the ages of 14 and 18.
True
If a 16 year old is having consensual sex with her 21-year-old boyfriend, the therapist must file a child abuse report
False
If a 15 year old is having consensual sex with her 21-year-old boyfriend, the therapist must file a child abuse report.
True