Professional Ethics and Responsibilities
Professional Ethics and Responsibilities tests applied ethics: informed consent, confidentiality and its limits, boundaries, mandated reporting, records, and supervisor accountability. Expect scenario questions where the right answer combines legal requirements, the ethics code, and consultation.
Core rules
- Know the difference between legal duties and ethical duties; follow the stricter applicable standard.
- Obtain informed consent for services and for supervision. Explain confidentiality, exceptions (e.g., suspected abuse or neglect, imminent danger, court order), fees, records, and supervisee status.
- Protect confidentiality under HIPAA and, for substance use disorder records, 42 CFR Part 2, which generally requires specific written consent before disclosure. Do not release the entire record when a limited release will do.
- Set and monitor boundaries. Romantic or sexual relationships with clients or supervisees are prohibited. Avoid dual relationships that risk exploitation; document consultation when a boundary issue is unavoidable.
- Supervisors must monitor impairment, ensure competence, and address unethical conduct through remediation or reporting. Consult legal counsel for subpoenas and high-risk disclosures.
Worked example
A subpoena arrives for a client’s substance use records. Reasoning: verify the subpoena’s validity; notify the client unless legally barred; obtain consent or a court order; consult counsel; release only the minimum required; redact third-party information; apply 42 CFR Part 2 consent rules. Do not send the chart because someone asked.
Traps
Promising absolute confidentiality; assuming a subpoena automatically authorizes full release; documenting opinions as facts; using social media to check on clients; ignoring a supervisee’s impairment; confusing duty to warn with a universal legal mandate-statutes vary.