ETHICAL OR NOT?
ADDING MY CLIENT TO MY SOCIAL MEDIA
WHAT IS...YOU BETTER NOT OR LAURIE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN (IN OTHER WORDS, NO!)
REPORT SUSPICION OF ABUSE
WHAT IS, AT ANY TIME YOU HAVE A FIRSTHAND INFORMATION ABUSE MIGHT BE HAPPENING
My client's mother wants to know what medication the doctor prescribed at the last visit. Can I tell her?
Only if she is the legal guardian.
YOUR CLIENT ASKS TO BUY YOU A BIRTHDAY PRESENT
WHAT IS, EXPRESS GRATITUDE WHILE KEEPING CLEAR BOUNDARIES THAT COMPANY POLICY PROHIBITS RECEIVING GIFTS FROM CLIENTS
I CAN KEEP SECRETS FOR MY CLIENT
WHAT IS FALSE. THIS MAY SEEM HARMLESS HOWEVER IT SETS AN ETHICAL PRECEDENT THAT MAY BE HARMFUL TO THE CLIENT
ADDING A JUST FEW EXTRA MINUTES TO YOUR TRACKER TO MAKE YOUR BILLABLES
WHAT IS, NEVER ETHICAL
REPORT ABUSE REPORTED TO ME BY ANOTHER PROVIDER
WHAT IS, YOU DO NOT REPORT SECONDHAND INFORMATION.
INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT ON THE PART OF A GUARDIAN
WHAT IS, NO. IF YOU SUSPECT ANY MISCONDUCT (FINANCIAL, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF MISCONDUCT) REPORT TO A.P.S.
AT A TEAM MEETING YOUR CLIENT THREATENS TO HARM THEMSELVES
WHAT IS, CONTACT CRISIS AND DO NOT LEAVE THE CLIENT
I CAN TALK TO A FORMER EMPLOYEE ABOUT MY CLIENTS
WHAT IS, FALSE. HIPAA VIOLATIONS COST APPROX 10K PER INFRACTION. IF YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY LAYING AROUND, YOU CAN BUY US ALL COFFEE INSTEAD ;)
RUNNING TO MY HOUSE TO DROP OFF SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO MY FAMILY MEMBER WHILE WITH A CLIENT
WHAT IS, THIS IS UNETHICAL, A HUGE BOUNDARY ISSUE, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.
RESEARCH POTENTIAL ABUSE REPORTED TO ME BY ANOTHER PROVIDER.
WHAT IS, YOU DO NOT INVESTIGATE POTENTIAL ABUSE. RECOMMEND THE PROVIDER REPORT ANY ABUSE THEY SUSPECT
WORK ON SATURDAY BECAUSE I HAD AN APPOINTMENT ON WEDNESDAY AND LEFT WORK EARLY.
WHAT IS, FALSE (UNLESS PRE-ARRANGED WITH SUPERVISOR). RARELY IS THIS ALLOWED AS THE OFFICES ARE CLOSED AND NO SUPERVISORS ARE AVAILABLE.
AFTER CONTACTING CRISIS, THEY DEEM YOUR CLIENT A DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND ARE SENDING THEM TO THE E.R. WHILE DOING SO, THEY ASK FOR A LIST OF MEDICATIONS.
WHAT IS, PROVIDE THE LIST TO THE CRISIS TEAM OR FIRST RESPONDERS.
WHAT IS, FALSE. THIS IS UNETHICAL AND CAUSES BLURRY BOUNDARIES WITH CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WHAT IS, UNETHICAL. YOU CANNOT REFER CLIENTS TO ANYONE YOU KNOW PERSONALLY. THIS IS A HIPAA VIOLATION.
CREATE A REPORTABLE EVENT
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT NO LATER THAN 24 HOURS.
THE CLIENT LEFT THEIR WALLET AT HOME SO YOU BUY THEM LUNCH AND TELL THEM THEY CAN TREAT NEXT TIME.
WHAT IS, YOU CANNOT DO THIS. WELLMEANING OR NOT, THIS VIOLATES ETHICAL BOUNDARIES. IF YOU WANT TO BUY SOMEONE LUNCH, CALL LAURIE ;)
YOUR SUPERVISOR IS UNAVAILABLE AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TO KEEP A CLIENT SAFE.
WHAT IS, USE YOUR BEST JUDGEMENT, NOTIFY YOUR SUPERVISOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT PEOPLE HAVE IS FREEDOM.
WHAT IS, FALSE. LIFE IS THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT
MACHIAVELLIANISM
WHAT IS, MACHIAVELLIANISM IS NOT ETHICAL. Those who possess a high degree of Machiavellianism usually see morality as a tool to attain their goals and feel comfortable resorting to manipulations or trickery to reach them.
GIVE MY CLIENT ADVISE ABOUT A MEDICAL PROCEDURE THEY ARE CONSIDERING.
WHAT IS, NEVER (UNLESS YOU HAVE GAINED AN "MD" RECENTLY AND FAILED TO CLUE US IN)
TAKE A CLIENT TO VOTE
WHAT IS, YES. WHAT YOU CANNOT DO HOWEVER IS INFLUENCE THEIR VOTE.
MY CLIENT CALLED ME 14 TIMES ON SATURDAY
WHAT IS, DO NOT ANSWER. CONTACT THE CLIENT DURING BUSINESS HOURS AND SET A BOUNDARY AROUND PHONE CALLS.
THE SUBJECT MATTER OF ETHICS DEALS WITH HUMAN CONDUCT
WHAT IS, TRUE.