Professional Ethics, Legislation, and Practice Organization
Ethics
Know core principles: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice, and fidelity. Understand informed consent, confidentiality, competence boundaries, and conflict of interest. Know that clinicians must practice within their scope and refer when outside it. Documentation must be accurate, timely, and objective. Avoid dual relationships that impair judgment.
Legislation and practice
Understand the legal frameworks governing practice-scope of practice, licensure, and settings (schools, hospitals, clinics). Know the concept of least restrictive environment for school services and individualized education plans. Understand privacy and record-keeping obligations. Know that supervision of assistants and students carries ethical responsibility.
Traps in questions
A common trap is breaching confidentiality casually (e.g., discussing a client in a public space). Another is practicing outside one's competence without supervision. Do not confuse ethical obligation with personal preference. Also, avoid promising outcomes that cannot be guaranteed. Questions often test whether you would refer rather than proceed.
Rule of thumb
When in doubt, protect confidentiality, stay within scope, document objectively, and refer when needed.
Worked example: A clinician asked to treat a disorder outside their training should refer or seek supervision rather than proceed, even if the client requests it.