clinical methods: ethics

What are professional ethics?

Principles that guide good, fair, and responsible professional conduct.

What are values?

Beliefs about what is important or worthwhile (honesty, respect, fairness).

What are morals?

Beliefs about right and wrong behavior.

What are laws?

Government-established rules that are enforced through penalties.

Does legal always mean ethical?

No. Ethical responsibilities can go beyond legal requirements.

What is autonomy?

Respecting a person's informed choices and right to make decisions.

What is justice?

Providing fair and equal treatment to all clients.

What is beneficence?

Acting in the client's best interest and promoting their well-being.

What is nonmaleficence?

Avoiding harm in all clinical decisions and actions.

What is fidelity?

Being faithful to professional responsibilities and keeping commitments.

What does autonomy include?

Informed consent, client participation, and the right to accept or refuse services.

What does justice include?

Nondiscriminatory access, fair resources, and appropriate assessments.

How does an SLP demonstrate beneficence?

Choosing helpful services, making referrals, and monitoring client progress.

How does an SLP demonstrate nonmaleficence?

Practicing within competence and avoiding unnecessary or harmful treatment.

How does an SLP demonstrate fidelity?

Keeping commitments, maintaining records, and following through on referrals.

What are professional codes of ethics?

Guidelines that explain expected professional behavior and conduct.

What is the purpose of the ASHA Code of Ethics?

To guide ethical conduct in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Who does the ASHA Code of Ethics apply to?

ASHA members, certificate holders, applicants, student members, and certified assistants under ASHA.

What is ASHA Principle I?

Responsibility to Persons Served.

What is ASHA Principle II?

Responsibility for Professional Competence.

What is ASHA Principle III?

Responsibility to the Public.

What is ASHA Principle IV?

Responsibility to the Professions and Professional Relationships.

What is Principle I mainly about?

Client welfare, nondiscrimination, confidentiality, and continuity of care.

What is Principle II mainly about?

Maintaining competence and practicing within your training and experience.

What is Principle III mainly about?

Honesty, accurate credentials, and truthful public representation.

What is Principle IV mainly about?

Professional honesty, collaboration, avoiding plagiarism, and reporting misconduct.

What is informed consent?

Obtaining permission before beginning services.

What is confidentiality?

Protecting private client information from unauthorized disclosure.

What is HIPAA?

A law that protects individually identifiable health information (PHI).

What does PHI stand for?

Protected Health Information.

What does HIPAA's Privacy Rule do?

Establishes standards protecting individually identifiable health information.

What does HIPAA's Security Rule do?

Requires safeguards to protect electronic protected health information (ePHI).

What are the three HIPAA Security safeguards?

Administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.

What is FERPA?

A law protecting education records maintained by federally funded educational agencies.

What is the main difference between HIPAA and FERPA?

HIPAA protects PHI; FERPA generally protects school education records.

When do FERPA rights transfer to a student?

At age 18 or upon enrollment in a postsecondary institution.

Who should you discuss client information with?

Only personnel involved in the client's care or services.

Is discussing clients in hallways acceptable?

No. Clinical conversations should occur in private locations.

Can clients be identified through social media without names?

Yes. Details like age, diagnosis, location, and photos can identify them.

Do private social media groups remove confidentiality duties?

No. Confidentiality responsibilities still apply.

What is the 2023 ASHA self-reporting update?

Written self-reporting is required within 60 days for specified events.

What events require ASHA self-reporting?

Certain convictions or pleas, public professional discipline, and license denial or surrender under investigation.

Who can ASHA ethics complaints be filed against?

Individuals, not organizations.

Does ASHA accept anonymous ethics complaints?

No. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.

What are possible ASHA sanctions?

Warnings, reprimands, censure, suspension, revocation, probation, and required education.

What is ethical decision-making?

A process of examining facts, values, consequences, and professional responsibilities.

What are the five steps of Ethical Decision Making Framework A?

1. Recognize the issue.

2. Obtain facts.

3. Evaluate alternatives.

4. Make and test a decision.

5. Act and reflect.

What is the utilitarian approach?

Choosing the option that creates the greatest benefit and least harm.

What is the rights approach?

Protecting the rights of everyone involved.

What is the justice approach?

Making decisions based on fairness and equity.

What is the common good approach?

Considering the welfare of the community.

What is the virtue approach?

Considering professional character and ethical qualities.

What is the Ethics Calibration Quick Test?

A process for examining dilemmas, values, evidence, actions, fairness, and integrity.

What is the Consensus Model?

An ethical decision-making process involving stakeholders and shared agreement.

What if consensus cannot be reached?

The clinician remains responsible for following client welfare, laws, and professional standards.

Can team harmony override client welfare?

No. Client welfare and professional standards come first.