Ethics Final Study Guide

Ethical Fading

The tendency to move the ethical or moral implications of implementing a decision into the background.

Informal Confrontation

A process where one identifies the relevant ethical principle or law that applies to a breach of professional ethics and reflects on motivations for addressing the issue.

Crisis

An external event that causes a loss of psychological equilibrium, leading to difficulty coping.

Emergency Resources

Resources in the community that are available for immediate response to avoid possible harm during emergencies.

Self-Control Fatigue

The reduced ability to regulate one's own behavior due to depletion of self-control reserves.

Reasonable People

Individuals who can arrive at different decisions while maintaining a rational thought process.

Red Flags

Warning signs in ethical decision-making, indicating potential issues or problems that need addressing.

Unlikely Ethics Violator

Individuals who may violate ethical standards despite not being broadly unethical.

Ethical Decision-Making Process

A systematic approach to making ethical decisions, including the collection of information and consideration of all parties involved.

Context-Specific Action

Actions taken based on the specific circumstances and nuances of a situation.

Challenging Work Settings

Contexts where mental health professionals must navigate complex ethical and operational dilemmas.

Client Hierarchy

A phrase used to describe the relationship and roles of clients in therapeutic settings, including individual vs. organization.

Harm vs. Good

The ethical dilemma of weighing potential harm against the benefits of a professional decision.

Gray Area

Ethical situations where there is no clear right or wrong answer, often involving differing opinions.

Ethics Codes

Guidelines that compel attention to welfare, integrity, and appropriate role clarity without advancing political agendas.

Informed Consent

The process of ensuring that clients understand the nature of the services provided and any potential risks.

Dual Roles

When a professional has multiple, potentially conflicting roles with the same client, complicating objectivity and ethics.

Confidentiality Issues

Concerns regarding the privacy of client information, especially in sensitive settings like schools or community agencies.

Client Treatment Orders

Judicial mandates that compel individuals to undergo mental health treatment.

Clergy and Psychotherapy

The potential conflict of roles when clergy members also act as psychotherapists, impacting their professional boundaries.

Forensics

A subspecialty that deals with the intersection of mental health and the law, often involving assessments of competency, dangerousness, and jury selection.

NGRI

Not guilty by reason of insanity; a legal defense asserting that a defendant was unable to understand that their actions were wrong due to mental illness.

Ethical issues

Concerns that mental health practitioners face, including fees, role conflicts, and their obligations when serving as expert witnesses.

Expert witnesses

Mental health professionals who provide opinions in legal cases, expected to remain unbiased and impartial.

Cognitive distortion

A pattern of negative thinking that distorts one’s perceptions, often discussed in the context of mental health and legal evaluations.

Child custody roles

Various responsibilities held by professionals in custody evaluations, including guardian ad litem, evaluators, mediators, and psychotherapists.

Duty

A legal obligation that a professional must fulfill towards their client.

Claims made

Insurance claims that occurred during a specific policy year and covered if the policy is continued and the claim is filed while the renewal policy is active.

Tail coverage

Insurance coverage that applies to claims filed after a policy has ended, particularly when switching carriers or retiring.

Falsifiability

The principle that a statement or hypothesis must be able to be proven false to be considered scientific.

Managed Care

A system that aims to manage healthcare costs through various methods, often influencing the availability of services.

Sliding Fee Scale

A payment structure that adjusts the cost of services based on a client's income and ability to pay.

No Surprises Act

A law that prevents unexpected medical bills for services rendered by out-of-network providers.

Ethics Codes

Guidelines that dictate the ethical practice standards for mental health professionals, focusing more on handling fees than the fees themselves.

Fee Splitting

Sharing fees with another professional for a referral, which is discouraged due to the potential for unethical practices.

Informed Consent

The process of educating clients about the treatment and associated costs, emphasizing transparency.

Third-party Payors

Entities such as insurance companies that reimburse providers for services rendered to clients.

Claw-backs

Funds that insurance companies reclaim from providers for services that were previously billed but are later deemed unqualified for coverage.

Fraud in Healthcare

Engaging in deceptive practices related to billing for services not rendered or misrepresenting treatment to insurers.

Negligence of Third-party Payors

The responsibility of insurance companies to provide care while managing costs, which can lead to conflicts of interest.

Self-promotion

The act of promoting oneself, typically in a professional context, to attract clients or opportunities.

FTC

Federal Trade Commission, a government agency that enforces antitrust and consumer protection laws.

APA

American Psychological Association, an organization representing psychologists in the United States.

Testimonials

Statements or endorsements given by clients or others as support for a therapist's services.

Integrity

The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; maintaining accuracy and truthfulness in advocacy.

Telepsychiatry

The delivery of psychiatric services via telecommunications technology, allowing for remote patient consultations.

Confidentiality

The ethical principle that obligates clinicians to protect private patient information from unauthorized disclosure.

Online media

Digital platforms where content can be shared; includes social media, websites, and blogs.

Advertising responsibilities

Clinicians must ensure that their promotional materials are truthful, not misleading, and accurately represent their qualifications.

Ethics violations

Actions by professionals that do not conform to the ethical standards set by governing bodies or organizations.

Ethics Codes

Standards that safeguard the public and the profession by balancing privilege with responsibility.

Positive Ethics

Ethical guidelines that emphasize what professionals should strive for rather than only prohibiting bad behavior.

Professional Organizations

Groups that have no jurisdiction over non-members but establish ethical guidelines for their members.

Licensing Boards

Regulatory bodies that delineate entry-level requirements and monitor the conduct of licensed professionals.

Complainants

Individuals, typically patients or family members, who file complaints against professionals due to dissatisfaction with conduct or services.

Remedial Ethics

An approach that focuses on minimal obligations and legal standards that must be followed.

Self-Care in Ethics

Practices that professionals should engage in to manage stress and uphold ethical standards.

Enforcement Options

Various measures including criminal law and civil litigation to address breaches of ethical standards.

Too Few Complaints

The statistic indicating that around 5.5% of psychologists face merit complaints; the majority do not.

Ethics Committees

Groups composed of members of a profession that address ethical complaints and dilemmas.