Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards
What to know
Master the core ethical principles (beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice, fidelity) and how they resolve conflicts. Know informed consent requirements, confidentiality and its limits (danger to self or others, abuse reporting, court orders), and the distinction between ethical obligations and legal mandates. Understand competence boundaries, multiple relationships, fees and bartering, record-keeping, and termination. Legal concepts: duty to protect, mandated reporting, HIPAA-style privacy protections, and the difference between confidentiality and privilege (privilege belongs to the client and can be waived). Know how to respond to subpoenas and how to handle minors and guardianship.
Traps
Questions often pit confidentiality against safety-when a serious threat exists, protective action generally overrides confidentiality. Distinguish confidentiality (clinician's duty) from privilege (client's legal protection). Watch for boundary items: not every dual relationship is unethical, but risk increases with power differential and potential harm.
Rule of thumb
When ethics and law appear to conflict, follow the higher standard and document reasoning. Ask: who is at risk, what does the law require, what does the ethics code advise, and what is the least intrusive protective action?