Deck 5: Ethics and Legality

Question 1

Which of the following sanctions may be imposed on psychologists for violations of the APA Ethics Code Standards?

A)Termination of APA membership.
B)Termination of membership in a state psychological association.
C)Loss of license to practice psychology.
D)All of the Above.

Answer 1

All of the Above.

Question 2

Which one of the following questionable behaviors on the part of a child psychologist mightnot be considered an enforceable offense by the APA?

A)Submitting exaggerated fees and diagnoses on forms for insurance reimbursement.
B)Having an extramarital affair with an 18-year-old (not a patient).
C)Dating a student in his psychology class.
D)Fudging the number of participants in a research study to secure more funds.

Answer 2

Having an extramarital affair with an 18-year-old (not a patient).

Question 3

Unless it is either impossible or contraindicated, at what point in therapy is the psychologist required to discuss the subject of confidentiality with a client?

A)Before treatment begins.
B)Early in treatment, as soon as the client shows evidence of being open to receiving help.
C)As soon as the subject of confidentiality is brought up by the client.
D)At the conclusion of treatment.

Answer 3

Before treatment begins.

Question 4

Which of the following behaviors, although frowned upon, would still be legally permissible for a psychologist?

A)Recording a client's/patient's voice and/or image without prior permission from the client/patient or legal representative.
B)Using electronic communication without advising the client/patient of the Right to Privacy and Limits of Confidentiality.
C)Charging a client /patient a greater fee than the amount agreed to beforehand because it becomes clear during the first meeting that the client/patient can afford it.
D)Discontinuing therapy early even though the client/patient wants and could possibly still benefit from additional therapy.

Question 5

When a patient isn't being responsive to therapy, the therapist may try doing something different in an attempt to reawaken the patient's interest. Which of the following changes in the routine would be considered unethical behavior on the part of the therapist?

A)Talking at length about the therapist's own personal history.
B)Asking the patient if he or she would like a cup of coffee or tea while they are talking.
C)Reviewing again with the patient the treatment goals that were previously discussed when therapy was initiated.
D)Giving the patient a homework assignment to complete for the next session.

Question 6

HIPAA regulations regarding the handling of protected health information come from what source?

A)American Psychological Association
B)American Medical Association
C)Federal Government
D)National Health Council

Question 7

Sometimes a research study is conducted using different modes of therapy for different randomly assigned groups. The term "informed consent" as applied to such a study means that the participant is provided with certain information before agreeing to volunteer. Which of the following is not information typically provided by the psychologist to enable the participant to give informed consent?

A)The purpose of the research.
B)Where the results of the study will be published.
C)The length of time the study will take.
D)The benefits and risks to the participant.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about participant rights in a psychology research study is not correct?

A)Participants have a right to have a general idea about what is being investigated and why.
B)Participants have the right to remain to remain anonymous in the study.
C)While a study is in progress, participants have the right to withdraw from the study at any time.
D)After a study is completed and all of the data are collected, participants can change their mind and ask not to be included.

Question 9

What is the minimum age at which an individual is generally legally deemed to be sufficiently mature to make his or her own decisions regarding psychotherapy?

A)12
B)16
C)18
D)21

Question 10

Some patients are incapable of giving informed consent to participate in the treatment plan mapped out for them. In instances where this problem appears likely, what, from an ethical standpoint, would be inappropriate for the psychologist to do?

A)Try to put the request into simpler language so that the patient will be able to understand and respond.
B)To save time, and based on the patient's clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia, and a previous situation in which the patient could not give informed consent, proceed without it since further attempts would be unsuccessful anyway.
C)Proceed with court ordered or otherwise mandated services without informed consent.
D)Obtain substitute consent from another person who is legally authorized.

Question 11

In which, if any, of the following instances would the Limits of Confidentiality in psychotherapy no longer apply?

A)With a parent who is not only paying for her child's therapy but has provided informed consent, then subsequently demands updated reports about what is taking place in the treatment sessions.
B)When children give strong reason to believe that they intend to harm either themselves or others.
C)When the psychologist is asked to testify in court in child abuse and neglect cases.
D)All of the above.
E)None of the above.

Question 12

According to the Ethics Code, in which of the following scenarios would a psychologist be obligated not to adhere to his earlier promise to the client of confidentiality of information revealed in treatment in the absence of informed consent?

A)Ann has admitted to having sex with her boyfriend but insists they use protection every time.
B)Dan tells the psychologist he is gay.
C)Fran has told the psychologist for the third time that she wants to take her life, although she has not formulated any concrete plans.
D)Stan confesses to the psychologist that last week he stole five candy bars from a convenience store just to see what it would feel like. He feels bad about it now and doesn't know why he did it.

Question 13

16-year-old Leslie tells her therapist that her mother, who sometimes doesn't get home until after midnight from her job as a nurse's aide, has a new boyfriend with a drinking problem. Leslie herself stays out late because she is afraid to come home early anymore, as there have been several occasions when the boyfriend showed up drunk and tried to make advances towards her. She also insists nothing actually ever happened and she doesn't want the psychologist to discuss the matter with anyone, including her mother. What is the psychologist legally and ethically obligated to do?

A)Maintain confidentiality since Leslie is 16 years old and that is her wish.
B)Since the mother gave informed consent prior to the start of therapy, be prepared to tell her about Leslie's latest concerns, but only if she asks.
C)Discuss Leslie's concerns with her mother as soon as possible, whether she herself asks or not, but don't contact Child Protective Services since no abuse has actually occurred.
D)Inform both the mother and Child Protective Services and also advise the mother about the report to CPS.

Question 14

One of the most difficult situations a clinical psychologist might have to face is losing a patient to suicide. Which of the following statements is most correct with regard to parental lawsuits after their teenage son or daughter has committed suicide?

A)The majority of these lawsuits are decided in favor of the parents due to the court's sympathy for all their suffering and heartache.
B)The majority of these lawsuits are decided in favor of the psychologist due to the absence of evidence that anything the psychologist did or did not do would make him accountable.
C)The incidence of these lawsuits is greater than ever due to increased awareness of parents' rights and their interest in exercising them.
D)The incidence of these lawsuits is extremely rare because most parents realize that it would be an exercise in futility to implicate the psychologist without evidence.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is correct regarding the responsibility of mandated reporters, which includes clinical psychologists, to report suspected instances of child abuse to Child Protective Services?

A)They are permitted to file a report only when they have actual evidence that child abuse or neglect has occurred.
B)They are strongly urged to file a report when they have reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect, but they are not required to file a report.
C)The same highly specific federal guidelines regarding the circumstances in which mandated reporters, such as psychologists, must file a report, are uniform in every respect, regardless of the state in which the psychologist resides and practices.
D)In addition to the federal guidelines, some states have their own statutes applicable specifically to the state, with regard to when a report to CPS is required.

Question 16

In which of the following circumstances would Child Protective Services not accept a report of alleged abuse or neglect on the part of the parents?

A)In this instance only: A 10-year-old girl tells you, the psychologist, that her parents sometimes leave her alone in the house with her 4-year-old sister and 2-year-old brother. You have no proof. However, the mother has a possibly unrelated "indicated" report from six months ago with CPS. The mother denies ever leaving the children alone.
B)In this instance only: A client, who is receiving therapy along with her 7-year-old hyperactive son, tells the psychologist that a new family-a woman in her early 40's and her 19-year-old daughter-recently moved in to the neighboring house on their street. She is concerned because the 19-year-old daughter, who is a college student, appears to be bringing assorted men of questionable character into the house at all hours. Also, there is frequently loud music coming from the house and it has occurred to her that the mother and/or the daughter could be getting high. No one else lives in the home, and the mother and daughter have no direct contact with the therapy client and her son, but the client says the two of them are bad for the neighborhood.
C)In both instances described above, CPS would accept a report from the psychologist and investigate it.
D)In both instances described above, CPS would refuse to accept a report from the psychologist because there is insufficient evidence in either case of immediate risk to a child that warrants their involvement.

Question 17

When psychologists are called upon to testify in court in child protection cases, they should consider their role to be primarily what?

A)Parental rights advocates.
B)Concerned citizens.
C)Impartial professional experts.
D)Fulfilling their legal obligation to tell the court what they think.

Question 18

Which of the following examples of court testimony that a child psychologist might give would be considered unethical?

A)Information disclosed by the child in therapy which the psychologist does not necessarily know is accurate.
B)Conjecture about the child's relationship with both parents if the psychologist has only met the mother.
C)Speculative conclusions based on projective tests administered and scored by the psychologist.
D)Information gathered from evaluations by school professionals that were shared with the psychologist.

Question 19

What is the biggest obstacle facing psychologists today wishing to practice distance therapy?

A)Not being proficient in the latest computer technology.
B)Lacking enough clients who would be willing to receive distance therapy.
C)Strict legal and ethical guidelines for distance therapy that may be difficult to follow.
D)Too much demand on their time since they are accustomed to working regular office hours.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about distance therapy is erroneous?

A)The standards of the APA Ethics Code only apply to therapy conducted in the psychologist's office, not to distance therapy.
B)One way telepsychologists can get around not being allowed to videoconference across state lines is to obtain a special limited-time guest license.
C)In order to practice distance therapy effectively, basic computer skills are not enough; a high level of computer proficiency is required.
D)Patients with severe mental illness would probably not be good candidates for distance therapy.

Question 21

A new ethical code of conduct was officially adopted by the APA in 2002, replacing the previous code that was adopted in 1992. There were a number of changes made, including altering the number and content of both general principles and ethical standards. Which of the following is NOT one of the five general principles in the 2002 code?

A)Fidelity and responsibility
B)Respect for people's rights and dignity
C)Competence
D)Beneficence and nonmaleficence

Question 22

A new ethical code of conduct was officially adopted by the APA in 2002, replacing the previous code that was adopted in 1992. There were a number of changes made, including altering the number and content of both general principles and ethical standards. One of the new ethical standards, privacy and confidentiality, deals in part with matters related to legal proceedings. In which of the following legal proceedings is patient confidentiality waived?

A)Subpoenas
B)Court orders
C)Court-appointed evaluation
D)Court-ordered therapy

Question 23

The fourth ethical standard of the official ethics code adopted by the APA in 2002 deals with privacy and confidentiality. In most cases, confidentiality must not be breached except with client release of information or when otherwise mandated by law. If a psychologist feels that another individual is in danger of physical violence from her client, she is required to notify that individual. The legal guideline to this particular action is known as:

A)Abuse reporting
B)Tarasoff statute
C)Psychological safety code
D)Havey mandate

Question 24

The tenth ethical standard of the 2002 ethics code adopted by the APA presents guidelines to therapy itself and the therapeutic relationship. One of those guidelines discusses sexual intimacy with a former client. According to this standard, how long must a psychologist wait before it is acceptable to become sexually involved with a former client?

A)Six months
B)One year
C)Two years
D)It is never allowable

Question 25

Euthanasia, the merciful ending of life in cases of fatal illness or disease, occurs in different contexts and with varying degrees of approval. Deliberately ending someone's life based on their wishes, or by the decision of someone with durable power of attorney, is known as:

A)Authorized euthanasia
B)Active euthanasia
C)Legal euthanasia
D)Passive euthanasia

Question 26

-minorities were unfair. A new requirement to use tests measuring applicable skills for a particular job Detective Benn is a criminal psychologist who is interested in juvenile precursors to adult murders. He is most likely interested in ____________.

A)diagnostic equipment that could detect sociopathy
B)school programs that would deter the worst of juvenile offenders
C)sociopsychological determinants of homicidal behavior in adulthood
D)how the show 'Criminal Minds' handles juvenile murders