Work of APA Ethics Office Flashcards
What are the 2 common kinds of calls?
Mandatory child-abuse reporting and Tarasoff – the duty to protect.
What central theme has emerged from inquiries?
Identifying and distinguishing the ethical, legal, and clinical aspects of the question posed.
While making these distinctions can sometimes be a bit frustrating to the caller because further consultation is necessary, clarifying what questions need to be asked can also offer a structured path for resolving the dilemma with which the psychologist is struggling.
What is meant by determining whether the legal threshold has been reached?
Is it a legal rather than an ethical question, the answer to which will likely depend on the relevant jurisdiction’s law?
What is the difference between a duty to disclose information and permission to disclose information?
Psychologists disclose confidential information without the consent of the individual only as mandated by law (duty), or where permitted by law for valid purpose such as to provide needed professional services; obtain appropriate professional consultations; or protect the client/patient, psychologist, or others from harm.
What is meant by “the ethical follows upon the legal which, in turn, follows upon the clinical?”
The answer to an ethical question will rest upon a clinical assessment to determine the likelihood that there is an actual threat of harm and a legal determination regarding how the jurisdiction’s law applies to the clinical situation. The clinical assessment will provide the foundation for the legal and ethical response- determining whether it is mandated or permitted to disclose information in response to a threat.
