Premium Essay

Protecting Clients from Harm Through Ethical Codes, Informed Consent and Confidentiality

In: Philosophy and Psychology

Submitted By cydneann
Words 2656
Pages 11
Protecting Clients from Harm through Ethical Codes, Informed Consent and Confidentiality
Cydne-Ann A. Grobri
Liberty University

Abstract
One of the primary reasons for the creation and use of ethical codes within helping professions is to educate the professional about acceptable ethical behavior and to protect the well-being of clients. The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (2008) illuminates that the code “sets forth values, ethical principles, and ethical standards to which professionals are to aspire and by which their actions can be judged.” (Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics). A helping professional is required to be ethically, clinically and legally-minded to safeguard the client and/or public during all interactions within the client/counselor relationship, arguably at the point of advertisement about the availability of service. This paper will examine the actions of a community college counselor and how her neglect to utilize codes of ethics and sound judgment put her in a predicament where she may have caused harm to the participants in her group. We will also explore a practical decision making model that will demonstrate that the helping profession has to begin applying principle and virtue ethics from the outset of the client/counselor relationship opposed to the initial meeting.
Keywords: group session, confidentiality, ethics, disclosure, legal, ACA

Protecting Clients from Harm through Ethical Codes, Informed Consent and Confidentiality The helping professional should do just that… help. There are numerous ethical codes written and distributed produced by associations for the helping professional that are designed to steer them to an accepted standard of practice and sound judgment. However, even with the best of intentions and with the knowledge of ethical standards, there is still an element

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Issues in Psychological Testing Worksheet

...1. What are at least two ethical issues associated with psychological testing? A: One ethical issue is the use of informed consent. An essential component of psychological testing is obtaining voluntary consent to the assessment. The client must be informed about the purpose, expected duration, and any procedures used in the testing, and ascertain the client understands every aspect of giving consent (American Psychological Association, 2010). If the client is a child, or an individual of limited capacity, the parent or legal guardian must give consent for the client. The idea of informed consent is a continuing agreement, and clients may withdraw their consent at any time during the testing (Hogan, 2007). According to the American Medical Association (2011), informed consent is a process of communication between a patient and a health care professional that results in the patient's authorization or agreement to undergo testing. Furthermore, patients or clients have a right to full disclosure of test results, which must be accommodated in language reasonably understandable to them. Second, maintaining confidentiality is another significant issue associated with psychological testing, and the psychologist is bound by ethical codes to refrain from referring to a patient's results outside of the appropriate context (Hogan, 2007). Furthermore, regarding confidentiality in record keeping, psychologists must maintain records efficiently, securely, and effectively so results are not...

Words: 1155 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Ethical Issues in Group Counseling

...Ethical Issues in Group Counseling COUN 612: Mental Health Ethics, Law and Practice April 28, 2011 Introduction Group counseling offers multiple relationships to assist an individual in growth and problem solving. Groups are an excellent treatment choice for numerous intrapersonal and interpersonal issues, and in helping people to change. Groups provide a sense of community to its members allowing them to see that they are not alone. In group therapy sessions, members are encouraged to discuss the issues that brought them to therapy openly and honestly. It is the responsibility of the counselor to work to create an atmosphere of trust and acceptance that encourages members to support one another. This atmosphere is developed and maintained from the initial intake of a client to the close of group. Many ethical dilemmas and questions arise for group therapists, a few of which will be addressed here: group work with diverse populations; rights of clients, informed consent and confidentiality; and involuntary clients. Description of Topic More recently group therapy has been widely used in the mental health field. There is a natural power in a therapeutic group that helps to bring about personal change for group members (Corey, Corey & Corey, 2010). Groups are designed to remediate specific problems or even prevent problems. It is the responsibility of the group leader, or counselor, to consciously acknowledge human diversity in society and the group setting. If...

Words: 2132 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

This Is Something I Am Loading G to Get a User Name, so Cinfising

...2014 ACA Code of Ethics As approved by the ACA Governing Council AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION counseling.org Mission The mission of the American Counseling Association is to enhance the quality of life in society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity. © 2014 by the American Counseling Association. All rights reserved. Note: This document may be reproduced in its entirety without permission for non-commercial purposes only. Contents ACA Code of Ethics Preamble • 3 ACA Code of Ethics Purpose • 3 Section A The Counseling Relationship • 4 Section B Section Confidentiality and Privacy • 6 C Professional Responsibility • 8 Section D Relationships With Other Professionals • 10 Section E Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation • 11 Section F Supervision, Training, and Teaching • 12 Section G Research and Publication • 15 Section H Distance Counseling, Technology, and Social Media • 17 Section I Resolving Ethical Issues • 18 Glossary of Terms • 20 Index • 21 •  2  • ACA Code of Ethics Preamble The American Counseling Association (ACA) is an educational, scientific, and professional organization whose members work in a variety of settings and serve in multiple capacities. Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers...

Words: 17874 - Pages: 72

Premium Essay

Just for Fun

...Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers Approved by the 1996 NASW Delegate Assembly and revised by the 2008 NASW Delegate Assembly The 2008 NASW Delegate Assembly approved the following revisions to the NASW Code of Ethics: 1.05 Cultural Competence and Social Diversity (c) Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical disability. 2.01 Respect (a) Social workers should treat colleagues with respect and should represent accurately and fairly the qualifications, views, and obligations of colleagues.  (b) Social workers should avoid unwarranted negative criticism of colleagues in communications with clients or with other professionals. Unwarranted negative criticism may include demeaning comments that refer to colleagues’ level of competence or to individuals’ attributes such as race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical disability. 4.02 Discrimination Social workers should not practice, condone, facilitate, or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender...

Words: 8519 - Pages: 35

Premium Essay

Ethics

... Group therapy is a common form of therapy utilized by many counselors. This type of therapy encompasses an entirely different set of ethics than that of individual counseling. There are numerous reasons for why a counselor may elect to use group therapy rather than individual therapy. The American Counseling Association (ACA) has developed a code of ethics for the counseling professional in order to provided a universal guideline for all counselor to abide by. Within the code of ethics provided by the ACA are codes that cover areas of the counseling relationship, confidentiality and privacy, professional responsibility, relationships with other professionals, evaluation, assessment, and interpretation, supervision, training, and teaching, research and publication, distance counseling, technology, and social media. All of these areas are further divided into subcategories in order to include all aspects ethics in the counseling relationship. Each of these sections provided by the ACA are important to a counselor practicing in a group setting, however, not all of these areas are applicable to the group counselor. Ethical Issues Unique to Group Therapy Group counseling offers many relationships, in order to assist an individual in growth and problem-solving. During a group therapy session members are encouraged to discuss the issues that brought them to therapy. Members are encouraged and expected to speak openly and honestly during sessions. It is the job of the counselor...

Words: 1421 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Business Research

...service we are providing and we hope to be your helper. Delivery is in the next moment. Solution Manual is accurate. Buy now below and the DOWNLOAD LINK WILL APPEAR IMMEDIATELY once payment is done! Prepare to receive your Business Research Methods Solution Manual in the next moment. -------------------------------------Business Research Methods Solution Manual Business Research Methods 12th Solution Manual This is a sample chapter Business Research Methods Cooper 12th Edition Solutions Manual Business Research Methods Cooper 12th Edition Solutions Manual Chapter 2 Ethics in Business Research CHAPTER LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this chapter, students should understand… What issues are covered in research ethics. The goal of “no harm” for all research activities and...

Words: 8218 - Pages: 33

Free Essay

Ethical Complications Breach in Confidentiality

...The essay will define confidentiality its importance to nurses as a profession and the Nursing and Midwifery Code of Professional Conduct. It will further look at possible dilemmas that could arise in course of practice between the nurse colleagues and the clients. Examples will be based on my clinical placement 1 at Blackfriars Work Centre. Confidentiality is keeping secret, the shared information depending on the situation arising. Dimond (2002) define confidentiality as one of the values of good practise that is concerned with protecting the private information obtained about the patient and client during the period of professional practice. Importantly all nurses including midwives have legal and professional responsibilities to respect the rights of patients and clients and treat them equally. NMC (2002) states that as a registered nurse, midwife or health visitor, you must protect confidential information. Clause 10 UKCC (1992) further states that health professionals should avoid from divulging such information without the client’s consent or a nominated person advocating on his behalf unless the disclosure is required by court order, in the public health interest and in the best interest of the patient. In addition, confidentiality as part of the social, ethical and moral basis of working in care setting is further explained in the NMC (2002) clause 5.1-5.4. In clinical setting, preserving confidentiality is view as the key to establish trust, promote good relationship...

Words: 2080 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Ethical Concerns in Nursing

...ETHICS IN NURSING Ethics: Are a branch of philosophy which seeks to address questions about morality; that is, about concepts such as good and bad, right and wrong, justice and virtue. Moral principles in health ethics: Autonomy: is the process of including clients in their health care decisions. * Informed Consent Beneficence: is the act of taking positive action to help others, it encourages people to do good for others and working in the best interest of the clients. * Performing a task for a patient that otherwise is not necessary but makes the client feel more at ease. For example crushing their pills in applesauce, at their request, even though they are perfectly capable of swallowing. Nonmaleficence: this involves the avoidance of hurt or harm to an individual. When referencing health care it refers to the will to do well as well as to do no harm. A good health care professional will balance the risks and benefits to ensure the best path of care for their patient. * Considering the associated discomfort or pain associated with a procedure that is designed to treat the patient. For example, radiation is designed to help treat cancer, but does have side effects that are undesirable. Justice: in simple terms it means fairness; in health care providers strive for fairness in medical treatment. Justice most often arises in discussion of health care resources. * Fair distribution of organs. Because the number of recipients outweighs the number of...

Words: 1784 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Ethics

...Protecting the confidentiality of a patient with an infectious disease can be complex. On one hand health care professionals are expected to follow the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) Code of Conduct 2010 guidelines which stress the importance of protecting patient confidentiality: “you must respect people’s right to confidentiality” (2010, p.3) and making every effort to promote patients as individuals who should be treated with dignity and respect (2010, p.3). Health care professionals may find themselves in turmoil over whether their necessity to protect others from cross-infection overrides the duty of care to their patient by keeping their information confidential; particularly in this case (see Appendix A) where the patient, Sam, has a head injury, knowingly has the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and has told his nurse not to disclose this information with others over his fear of future career prospects. This essay will discuss in general the moral and professional issues raised by this scenario. There are no definitive answers to this scenario as everyone’s opinion of what is right and what is wrong differs. This essay explores the legal legislation that may guard his nurse if they feel that his confidentiality needed to be breached and also what legislation is in place to protect the general public from Sam. It will also try to explain what actions are in place to protect Sam; professional guidelines and laws available that protect confidentiality rights and...

Words: 4816 - Pages: 20

Premium Essay

Ethics in Counseling

...  Abstract Ethics and ethical behavior is indispensable in the therapist-client relationship. The professional organizations for psychotherapy professionals have recognized the need to formalize baseline behaviors in codes of ethics that give the minimum standard of practice for therapists. An examination of the aspects of confidentiality, competence, dual roles, sexual intimacies and termination will demonstrate the need for and directed guidelines for ethical behavior. The Bible offers inspiration for the provider of soul care and shows that counseling is an activity that Jesus would endorse as an extension of His hands.   Ethics at the Heart of Counseling Introduction The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of ethics in psychotherapy and in the therapeutic relationship. A brief history in the area of ethics will be observed followed by noting the importance of ethics within to psychotherapy. Five aspects of psychotherapy relating to ethics will be discussed with a review of the major codes of ethics. The identity and function of the counselor will be related to maintaining an ethical practice. A biblical view on the need of ethics will shown and the perspective of the writer will be stated. History and Development of Ethics in Psychotherapy A code of ethics is a set of principles of conduct within an organization that guide decision-making and behavior of their membership. All major mental health organizations have adopted a code of ethics or standards for...

Words: 3880 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Ethics Paper

...Abstracts The paper researches the ethical issues faced in group counseling. It also shows a comparison of individual and group counseling. The paper discusses issue of confidentiality, and how it affects group counseling. Confidentiality is considered cornerstone to counseling (Kocet 2006). It is very important for the counselor to reinsure that the client understands confidentiality policies. When dealing with adolescents, confidentiality rules and regulations are the same as adults. Counselors are bound by the same rules and regulations to keep the client’s (the minor) records privileged, but in cases of immediate danger or harm to others the counselor can disclose information to the minor’s parent. I think that I was direct leader, and I utilize several of the qualifications and skills that I learned in the class. Ethics Paper: Individual or Group Therapy When seeking help, it is very difficult to decide what type of therapy to choose. Because we have different situations and problems, the decision to choose individual or group therapy could be a very hard one. Many clients choose to benefit from both individual and group therapy. Groups can be a valuable resource to clients and helping them work out their thoughts and feelings in a setting with people that may be going through similar situations (Lawrence and Kurplus 2000). Group can allow clients to gain feedback from other people, and allow them to listen...

Words: 3832 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Healthcare Ethics

...CASE SCENARIO Leo R. is a 45-year-old patient with diabetes and is a widower with three young children. Two of Leo’s children suffer from chronic medical conditions. His oldest daughter, like Leo, has insulin-dependent diabetes. His only son suffers from grand mal epilepsy, which is poorly controlled by a plethora of medications. Leo works for a small printing business, a job he enjoys, but one that makes it difficult for him to make ends meet. With only six employees, the company’s owner cannot afford to offer health insurance. Leo’s annual salary of $30,000 allows him to purchase only the most basic of health plans, one that does not include coverage for prescription medications. Leo frequently must decide between medications and food, often opting for cheap junk food that is neither nutritious for his young family nor appropriate for a diabetic diet. Leo has recently applied for and been offered several other jobs, but at a lower salary and with no health insurance coverage. Recently, Leo’s diabetes has worsened. He has developed a serious infection that has led to lost wages and, far worse, the loss of his right leg below the knee. Leo is weighing his options. He has heard about a new clinical research trial open to insulin-dependent diabetics that pays $100 a week to research subjects. He has also been quite depressed and begun to wonder if his children might not be better off without him. He has several life insurance policies that would pay off generously if something...

Words: 9363 - Pages: 38

Premium Essay

Privacy and Confidentiality

...the perception about how health care is practiced today. The rights of patient are also affected. Patient rights have now become the center of attention in practice of medicine. Today, concerns about patients’ choice and the respect for their preferences, values and the access to medical care are getting more complex. The patients’ expectations are becoming higher and now they always want everything best (Rafique & Bhatti, 2014). Nurses are subject to numerous ethical and legal duties in their professional role, including the imperative to maintain patients’ privacy and confidentiality. Beginning in 1893, nurses take the Nightingale Pledge “I promise to do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling” (Gretter, 2012). The duty continues today, with hospital policies, state regulations, and federal law aimed at protecting patients’ confidentiality. Critical care providers are often privy to confidential information in the course of clinical practice. The dilemma may arise when confidential information is requested by family members or friends of the patient. Although at times it seems that regulations and laws are so stringent that any disclosure of health care information is forbidden, it may be necessary and appropriate to make disclosures, and the current regulations and laws support the professional judgment...

Words: 9016 - Pages: 37

Premium Essay

Confidentiality in Nursing

...Confidentiality in Nursing Introduction: This essay will give a brief definition regarding the principles of nursing practice, state why there are important to nursing practice. It will then explore confidentiality as a principle E of nursing practice, report why confidentiality is extremely important within nursing practice and will discuss the patient’s rights in relation to law. Relevant reference of published literature will be put forward in this essay to support the author statement. Main body: RCN (2010) states that the Principles of nursing practice “describe what everyone can expect from nursing practice, whether they are colleagues, patients, the families or carers of patients”. There are eight Principles of nursing practice such as; Principle A: “focuses on dignity, equality, diversity and humanity” Principle B: “focuses on ethical integrity, legal integrity, accountability and responsibility”. Principle C: “focuses on the safety of all people (patients, visitors and staff), the environment, organisational health and safety, management of risk, and clinical safety”. Principle D: “encompasses themes of advocacy, empowerment, patient-centred care, and patient involvement in their care”. Principle E: “focuses on communication, handling feedback, record keeping, reporting and monitoring”. Principle F: “focuses on evidence-based practice, technical skills, education, training and clinical reasoning”. Principle G: “encompasses themes of care...

Words: 1845 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Casro

...CASRO Code of Standards and Ethics DBA student Natasha Johnson There are four main responsibilities in the CASRO Code if Standards and Ethics: Responsibilities to Respondents, Responsibilities to Clients, Responsibilities in Reporting to Clients and the Public, and Responsibilities to Outside Contractors and Interviewers. The CASRO Code of Standards and Ethics This Code of Standards and Ethics for Survey Research sets forth the agreed-upon rules of ethical conduct for survey research organizations. Acceptance of this Code is mandatory for all CASRO members. The Code has been organized into sections describing the responsibilities of a survey research organization to Respondents, Clients and Outside Contractors and in reporting study results. This Code is not intended to be, nor should it be, an immutable document. Circumstances may arise that are not covered by this Code or that may call for modification of some aspect of this Code. The Standards Committee and the Board of Directors of CASRO will evaluate these circumstances as they arise and, if appropriate, revise the Code. The Code, therefore, is a living document that seeks to be responsive to the changing world of survey research. To continue to be contemporary, CASRO advocates ongoing, two-way communication with Members, Respondents, Clients, Outside Contractors, Consultants and Interviewers. I. Responsibilities to Respondents Preamble Researchers have professional and legal responsibilities...

Words: 6613 - Pages: 27