ABCN Professional Ethics and Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A neuropsychologist is asked to evaluate a patient who speaks limited English. The most ethical approach is to:
- Administer standard English-language tests with a note about limitations
- Use a trained interpreter and culturally appropriate instruments where available (Correct answer)
- Refer the patient to a bilingual psychologist in all cases
- Administer nonverbal tests only and report results without qualifications
Correct answer: Use a trained interpreter and culturally appropriate instruments where available
Using trained interpreters and culturally validated instruments minimizes bias while allowing the evaluation to proceed ethically.
Question 2: Which ethical principle underlies the requirement that neuropsychologists only practice within their areas of competence?
- Justice
- Autonomy
- Nonmaleficence (Correct answer)
- Fidelity
Correct answer: Nonmaleficence
Practicing outside one's competence risks harming clients, violating the principle of nonmaleficence (do no harm).
Question 3: A neuropsychologist receives a subpoena for a patient's raw test data. The most appropriate response is to:
- Immediately comply and send all records
- Seek legal counsel and determine whether a protective order is warranted (Correct answer)
- Destroy the records to protect patient privacy
- Ignore the subpoena if the patient objects
Correct answer: Seek legal counsel and determine whether a protective order is warranted
Neuropsychologists should consult legal counsel and may seek a protective order to balance legal obligations with patient confidentiality.
Question 4: When a neuropsychologist becomes aware that their personal problems may be affecting professional performance, the ethical obligation is to:
- Continue working while seeking treatment
- Seek consultation, supervision, or limit practice as appropriate (Correct answer)
- Take an indefinite leave of absence immediately
- Disclose the problems to all current patients
Correct answer: Seek consultation, supervision, or limit practice as appropriate
APA ethics require self-monitoring and seeking appropriate support or limiting practice when personal problems interfere with professional effectiveness.
Question 5: In a forensic neuropsychological evaluation, the examiner's primary obligation is to:
- The attorney who retained them
- The court and pursuit of objective findings (Correct answer)
- The examinee's best interests
- The referring physician
Correct answer: The court and pursuit of objective findings
Forensic evaluators are obligated to provide objective, impartial findings to the court rather than advocating for any party.
Question 6: Which scenario most clearly violates the APA principle of fidelity?
- Using a new assessment instrument after appropriate training
- Abandoning a patient mid-treatment without referral or warning (Correct answer)
- Charging fees that are slightly above regional norms
- Co-authoring research with a former graduate student
Correct answer: Abandoning a patient mid-treatment without referral or warning
Fidelity requires trustworthiness and honoring professional commitments; abandoning a patient without transition planning is a clear breach.
Question 7: A neuropsychologist is asked to use a test battery by a referring neurologist that the psychologist considers outdated. The ethical course of action is to:
- Use the battery as requested to maintain the referral relationship
- Refuse the referral entirely
- Use current best-practice instruments and explain the rationale to the referral source (Correct answer)
- Use the requested battery but note its limitations in the report
Correct answer: Use current best-practice instruments and explain the rationale to the referral source
Neuropsychologists must use scientifically supported methods; substituting better instruments while explaining the rationale upholds professional standards.
ABCN Professional Ethics and Standards 3
A neuropsychologist is asked to evaluate a patient who speaks limited English.
The most ethical approach is to: