Unit 3- ethics Flashcards
What are ethics?
A philosophical discipline concerned with human conduct and moral decision making
What is morality?
- judgment or evaluation of action
- good and bad, right and wrong
What is law?
- precise codification of governing standards that ensure legal and moral justice
What does law dictate?
What is legal, not ethical
What is a cllrs identity related to?
Their knowledge and practice of ethics- behaviour
What are common unethical behaviours?
- violation of confidentiality
- exceeding level of professional competence
- negligent practice
- claiming expertise one doesn’t possess
- imposing one’s values on a client
- creating dependency in a client
- sexual activity with a client
- conflicts of interest/dual relationship
- questionable financial arrangements
- improper advertising
- plagiarism
What is a dual relationship?
where the role of cllr is combined with another relationship wither personal or professional
What are code of ethics and standards based on?
- an agreed upon set of values
What is required for a group to be considered a professional organization?
A code of established ethics
What are the major reasons for the existence of ethical codes?
- ensure protection of clients and expectations of practitioners
- legitimize professional organizations
- provide guidelines for professional conduct
- protect the profession from the government
- control internal disagreements and promote stability
- protect practitioners from the public
- increase the public trust in the profession
What are some limitations of codes of ethics?
- some issues can’t be resolved
- enforcement is difficult
- conflicts within the standards
- some issues aren’t covered
- are historical documents and may be unethical in future
- conflicts bw ethical and legal code
- do not address cross-cultural issues
- not proactive documents that help cllrs decide what to do in new situations
What are the 3 reasons that ethical codes pose dilemmas for cllrs?
- cllrs must be aware of the codes and be able to differentiate ethical dilemmas from other dilemmas
- different ethical principles in a code can offer conflicting guidelines about what to do in a situation
- conflicts if cllr belongs to more than one prof orgs with different codes
What are the 5 most prevalent ethical dilemmas?
- confidentiality
- role conflict
- counsellor competence
- conflicts with employer or institution
- degree of dangerousness
What are the main ethical principles relating to cllr choices?
- beneficence (do good, prevent harm)
- non-maleficence (do no harm)
- autonomy
- justice
- fidelity
What are the 4 guidelines for acting ethically?
1- personal and professional honesty
2- acting in the best interest of the client
3- act without malice or personal gain
4- justify an action
What are the 6 fundamental principles in the CCPA code of ethics?
- beneficence
- fidelity
- non-maleficence
- autonomy
- justice
- societal interest
What are the 3 different models for ethical dilemmas and decision-making?
- Principle-based ethical decision-making: help cllrs make better decisions
- virtue-based ethical decision-making: how to to what you believe is the right thing
- Quick check: three questions
What are the Quick check 3 questions?
- publicity
- universality
- justice
What is the additional ethical guideline that only applies to social workers?
protect the confidentiality of deceased clients
What are the 4 main ethical issues in research?
- informed consent
- coercion and deception
- confidentiality and privacy
- reporting the results
What is the slippery slope effect?
When condoning or ignoring a situation risks eroding the persons own sense of moral self-hood and may find it easier to condone future ethical breaches.
What are the 3 steps of working through an ethical dilemma re an impaired colleague?
- identify the problem objectively
- apply current code of ethics, consider moral principles and speak to colleagues
- choose course of action, it may be to speak to person first, then go to association
How is sharing of information broken down?
- confidentiality
- privacy
- privileged communication
What is confidentiality?
The ethical duty to fulfill a contract/promise to clients that the information revealed during therapy will be protected from unauthorized disclosure
- between professional and client
What is privacy?
An evolving legal concept that recognizes an individual’s right to choose the time, circumstances and extent to which they wish to share/withhold personal info
- between client and law
What is privileged communication?
a client’s legal right, guaranteed by statute, that confidences originating in a therapeutic relationship will be safeguarded
- does not apply in group/family cllg
What is the suggestion to cllrs when there is a risk of client violence?
A cllr should try to diffuse danger while satisfying legal duty- warn the potential victim
What is liability?
Issues concerned w whether cllrs have caused harm to clients
What is malpractice?
Harm to a client resulting from professional negligence
What is negligence?
the departure from acceptable professional standards
What are the two methods of protection from malpractice?
A) follow professional codes of ethics
B) follow normal practice standards
What are the 3 types of liability?
- civil liability
- criminal liability
- administrative liability
What does the concept of civil liability rely on?
Tort
What is tort?
a wrong that legal action is designed to set right
What are the 2 types of client rights regarding records?
- implied rights- substantive due process
- explicit rights- procedural due process
What are 6 categories of documents in a client record?
- ID/intake info
- Assessment info
- Treatment plan
- Case notes
- termination summary
- other data
What are the two ways of thinking re ethics and the law?
- like a cllr: the minority, need to acculturate
- like an attorney
What are the 4 CPA ethics principles?
- Respect dignity of person
- Responsibility of caring
- Integrity in relationship
- Responsibility to society
