Ethics, Legal, and Professional Standards
What the candidate must know
Ethics questions test principles (autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, fidelity) and their application. Know informed consent, confidentiality and its limits (danger to self or others, abuse reporting, court orders), competence boundaries, dual relationships, and boundary management.
Know the difference between ethical obligations and legal duties. Confidentiality is an ethical duty; mandated reporting and duty-to-protect statutes are legal duties that vary by jurisdiction. When they conflict, legal mandates generally govern, and consultation and documentation are expected.
Traps in questions
- Assuming one jurisdiction's reporting rules apply everywhere.
- Confusing a boundary crossing (often benign, context-dependent) with a boundary violation (harmful).
- Believing a client's request alone waives confidentiality when a court order is involved.
- Practicing outside competence without supervision or referral.
Rule of thumb
When facing an ethical dilemma, follow a structured process: identify the issue, consult codes and law, consult colleagues, consider consequences, act, and document. The most defensible answer is usually the one that protects the client, follows law, and documents reasoning.
Worked example
A client's partner calls asking for information. The correct response is to neither confirm nor deny that the person is a client, explain confidentiality limits generally, and discuss the request with the client.