Ethical & Legal Standards in Behavioral Health Flashcards
7 cards from real BHP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethical & Legal Standards in Behavioral Health flashcards as text
A BHP is treating a client who is also being treated by a psychiatrist. To coordinate care, the BHP should:
Answer: Obtain a signed release of information from the client before sharing any PHI with the psychiatrist
Even among co-treating providers, a signed release of information is required before sharing PHI unless the exchange falls under a formal treatment team arrangement.
A client's estranged adult sibling calls the BHP's office requesting confirmation that the client is receiving services. The BHP should:
Answer: Neither confirm nor deny the client's status without a valid authorization from the client
Even confirming that someone is a client constitutes a disclosure of PHI; without client authorization, the BHP must neither confirm nor deny treatment.
Which of the following criteria is generally used to determine if involuntary psychiatric hospitalization is warranted?
Answer: The client is a danger to self or others, or is gravely disabled due to mental illness
Involuntary commitment criteria in the U.S. typically require that a person be an imminent danger to themselves or others, or be gravely disabled, due to a mental disorder.
A BHP is closing their private practice and needs to manage client records. Ethically and legally, the BHP must:
Answer: Retain records for the legally required period, notify clients, and arrange for record transfer or access
When closing a practice, BHPs must retain records per applicable law, notify clients, and provide a mechanism for clients to access or transfer their records.
A BHP discovers that a client who is an undocumented immigrant has been given inaccurate information by a staff member about their legal rights. Ethically, the BHP should:
Answer: Correct the misinformation, provide accurate information, and advocate for the client's rights
BHPs have an ethical duty to advocate for clients and correct harmful misinformation, regardless of the client's immigration status.
Which of the following BEST describes 'cultural competence' as an ethical requirement in behavioral health?
Answer: Continuously developing awareness, knowledge, and skills to effectively serve diverse client populations
Cultural competence is an ongoing commitment to developing self-awareness, knowledge about diverse cultures, and skills to provide effective, respectful care across cultural differences.
A BHP who is experiencing significant personal distress due to a recent divorce continues to maintain a full caseload. The primary ethical concern is:
Answer: Impaired objectivity may compromise the BHP's ability to provide competent care, harming clients
BHPs have an ethical obligation to monitor their own wellness and seek consultation, supervision, or reduced caseload when personal issues risk impairing professional competence.