ASPPB Ethical Standards & Professional Conduct 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A psychologist receives a subpoena for a client's therapy records. What is the ethically and legally appropriate initial response?
- Immediately comply and send all records to the court
- Notify the client and consult legal counsel before releasing records (Correct answer)
- Destroy records to protect client confidentiality
- Contact the judge directly to explain therapist-client privilege
Correct answer: Notify the client and consult legal counsel before releasing records
A subpoena is not a court order; the psychologist must notify the client and seek legal guidance before deciding whether to release records.
Question 2: The EPPP competency area 'ethical, legal, and professional issues' specifically requires psychologists to understand:
- Only federal regulations governing mental health practice
- The intersection of ethics, law, and professional standards in practice (Correct answer)
- Insurance billing codes and reimbursement schedules
- Marketing and business development principles
Correct answer: The intersection of ethics, law, and professional standards in practice
EPPP standards require integrated knowledge of how ethical codes, state/federal law, and professional guidelines interact in real-world practice.
Question 3: A psychologist working in a hospital is pressured by administration to discharge a client prematurely for financial reasons. The ethical course of action is to:
- Comply with administration to maintain employment
- Advocate for the client's clinical needs and document concerns (Correct answer)
- Transfer care without informing the client of the reason
- Contact the client's insurance company directly without consent
Correct answer: Advocate for the client's clinical needs and document concerns
Psychologists must prioritize client welfare and are ethically obligated to advocate for appropriate care even under institutional pressure.
Question 4: Which practice best demonstrates a psychologist's commitment to cultural competence under APA ethical standards?
- Treating all clients identically regardless of background
- Continuously updating knowledge and skills related to diverse populations (Correct answer)
- Referring all minority clients to specialists
- Using the same standardized instruments with all clients
Correct answer: Continuously updating knowledge and skills related to diverse populations
Cultural competence requires ongoing education and adaptation of practice, not uniformity or automatic referral to others.
Question 5: A psychology researcher learns a participant is experiencing acute suicidal ideation during a study. The researcher's ethical obligation is to:
- Complete the study protocol before addressing the crisis
- Pause the study and ensure the participant receives appropriate clinical care (Correct answer)
- Report the finding anonymously to protect study integrity
- Refer the participant to the study's debriefing coordinator
Correct answer: Pause the study and ensure the participant receives appropriate clinical care
Participant welfare takes precedence over research protocol; researchers must respond to emergent clinical needs regardless of study design.
Question 6: Under APA ethics, sexual intimacies with a former client are prohibited for at least how long after termination of therapy?
- 6 months
- 1 year
- 2 years
- The prohibition is permanent by default with rare exceptions after 2 years (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The prohibition is permanent by default with rare exceptions after 2 years
The APA Ethics Code prohibits sexual intimacies for at least 2 years post-termination, and even after 2 years, the burden is on the psychologist to demonstrate no exploitation occurred.
Question 7: A psychologist suspects a colleague is practicing while impaired due to substance use. The most ethically appropriate initial action is to:
- Report immediately to the state licensing board without further inquiry
- Consult with a trusted colleague or ethics committee before taking action (Correct answer)
- Confront the colleague publicly at a staff meeting
- Do nothing unless a client files a formal complaint
Correct answer: Consult with a trusted colleague or ethics committee before taking action
Ethical standards encourage informal resolution or consultation first when feasible, unless the situation poses imminent harm requiring immediate reporting.
ASPPB Ethical Standards & Professional Conduct 3
A psychologist receives a subpoena for a client's therapy records.
What is the ethically and legally appropriate initial response?