Client Rights
This ethical principle ensures clients can make their own informed decisions about treatment.
What is autonomy?
This federal law protects clients’ health information in most behavioral health settings.
What is HIPAA?
Accepting expensive gifts from clients may violate this ethical concept.
What are professional boundaries?
“Do no harm” is the simplest definition of this ethical principle.
What is nonmaleficence?
When ethics and law conflict, professionals should consult this resource first.
What is a supervisor?
Clients have the right to receive services without discrimination based on race, gender, diagnosis, or socioeconomic status.
What is the right to equitable treatment?
Confidentiality may be broken when a client makes a credible threat of harm to self or others.
What is duty to warn/protect?
Having both a personal and professional relationship with a client is called this.
What is a dual relationship?
Acting in the best interest of the client reflects this principle.
What is beneficence?
A structured process used to evaluate ethical dilemmas step-by-step is called this.
What is an ethical decision-making model?
Clients must be informed of risks, benefits, and alternatives before agreeing to services.
What is informed consent?
This principle limits sharing client information to only what is necessary.
What is minimum necessary?
Providing services to a close friend or family member generally violates this ethical standard.
What is avoidance of conflicts of interest?
Treating clients fairly and allocating resources equitably represents this principle.
What is justice?
Reporting suspected abuse or neglect is required under this type of law.
What are mandatory reporting laws?
This right allows clients to view or request copies of their treatment records, with limited exceptions.
What is the right to access records?
Written permission from a client allowing information to be shared is called this.
What is a release of information?
Social media interactions with clients can threaten this fundamental ethical requirement.
What is professional objectivity?
Keeping promises and being trustworthy with clients demonstrates this value.
What is fidelity?
Practicing outside one’s training violates this ethical requirement.
What is practicing within scope of competence?
Clients may refuse treatment unless they meet legal criteria for this type of intervention.
What is involuntary treatment?
Notes that contain a therapist’s personal impressions and are given extra protection are called these.
What are psychotherapy notes?
Continuing a therapeutic relationship primarily to meet the provider’s needs violates this principle.
What is nonmaleficence?
Telling the truth and providing accurate information reflects this ethical principle.
What is veracity?
Documenting ethical decisions helps protect both the client and the provider in this way.
What is risk management?