BCAT Ethics and Legal Considerations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A parent asks a BCAT to share another client's data to compare progress. What should the BCAT do?
- Share anonymized data to be helpful
- Refuse because sharing another client's data violates confidentiality (Correct answer)
- Ask the supervisor and share if approved
- Share only the graphs without names
Correct answer: Refuse because sharing another client's data violates confidentiality
Client confidentiality is protected under HIPAA and ethics codes; sharing any client data with unauthorized parties is a violation.
Question 2: When a BCAT suspects abuse or neglect of a client, what is the required action?
- Report the suspicion to the supervising BCBA only
- Document it internally and monitor
- Fulfill mandatory reporter obligations by reporting to the appropriate child protective services agency (Correct answer)
- Confront the suspected abuser directly
Correct answer: Fulfill mandatory reporter obligations by reporting to the appropriate child protective services agency
BCAs are mandatory reporters and must report suspected abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities regardless of certainty.
Question 3: Which ethical principle requires a BCAT to act in the best interest of the client rather than their own personal gain?
- Autonomy
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Nonmaleficence
- Justice
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence means promoting the well-being of the client and acting in their best interest above personal interests.
Question 4: A BCAT discovers they inadvertently shared a client's PHI via email. The first step should be to:
- Delete the email and hope no one notices
- Notify the supervisor and follow the organization's breach response protocol (Correct answer)
- Call the recipient and ask them to delete the email
- File a complaint with the BACB immediately
Correct answer: Notify the supervisor and follow the organization's breach response protocol
HIPAA requires organizations to follow breach notification protocols, so the BCAT must immediately notify a supervisor to trigger the proper response.
Question 5: A client's IEP team meeting is scheduled and a parent cannot attend. Under IDEA, the school must:
- Proceed with the meeting and mail the parent a summary
- Reschedule or offer alternative means for parental participation (Correct answer)
- Conduct the meeting with the BCBA acting as the parent's proxy
- Cancel the IEP and reassess the student's eligibility
Correct answer: Reschedule or offer alternative means for parental participation
IDEA requires schools to make reasonable efforts to ensure parental participation, including rescheduling or offering alternative participation methods.
Question 6: Dual relationships in ABA practice are problematic primarily because they:
- Increase the number of billable hours
- Can compromise the therapist's objectivity and client welfare (Correct answer)
- Are explicitly illegal under federal law
- Reduce the effectiveness of reinforcement schedules
Correct answer: Can compromise the therapist's objectivity and client welfare
Dual relationships compromise the therapist's objectivity and can lead to exploitation or harm to the client.
Question 7: Which document would a BCAT most likely reference to understand their professional ethical obligations?
- The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
- The BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (Correct answer)
- The IDEA Part C guidelines
- The ADA Title I employment provisions
Correct answer: The BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts
The BACB Ethics Code establishes the professional and ethical standards that all BACB certificants, including BCAs, must follow.
BCAT Ethics and Legal Considerations 3
A parent asks a BCAT to share another client's data to compare progress.
What should the BCAT do?