BHP Ethics & Professional Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A BHP working in a community mental health center begins developing strong romantic feelings toward a current client. The most ethical course of action is to:
- Continue treatment but maintain professional distance
- Disclose the feelings to the client to maintain transparency
- Seek supervision and arrange for a clinically appropriate transfer of care (Correct answer)
- Wait until the therapeutic relationship ends before pursuing any contact
Correct answer: Seek supervision and arrange for a clinically appropriate transfer of care
Romantic feelings toward a client require immediate supervisory consultation and transfer of care to protect the client from harm and maintain professional boundaries.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a non-maleficence violation in behavioral health?
- Providing evidence-based treatment that the client requests
- Referring a client to a more specialized provider
- Using an intervention that research shows worsens client outcomes (Correct answer)
- Obtaining informed consent before beginning treatment
Correct answer: Using an intervention that research shows worsens client outcomes
Non-maleficence means 'do no harm'; using an intervention with evidence of harm directly violates this core ethical principle.
Question 3: A mandated reporter BHP learns during a session that a client's 8-year-old child is being physically abused by a step-parent. The client begs the BHP not to report. The BHP must:
- Honor the client's request to preserve therapeutic alliance
- Wait until the abuse can be confirmed independently
- Report the suspected child abuse to the appropriate authorities (Correct answer)
- Consult only with a supervisor and take no further action
Correct answer: Report the suspected child abuse to the appropriate authorities
Mandated reporter status requires BHPs to report suspected child abuse regardless of client wishes or therapeutic relationship considerations.
Question 4: Cultural competence in ethical behavioral health practice requires that a BHP:
- Treat all clients identically regardless of cultural background
- Recognize and address how cultural factors influence assessment and treatment (Correct answer)
- Refer all clients from minority backgrounds to same-culture providers
- Avoid discussing cultural identity to prevent stereotyping
Correct answer: Recognize and address how cultural factors influence assessment and treatment
Cultural competence means acknowledging and incorporating clients' cultural contexts into assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
Question 5: An agency director asks a BHP to document a session that never occurred to satisfy a grant requirement. This request represents:
- Acceptable administrative flexibility
- Insurance fraud and an ethical violation requiring refusal (Correct answer)
- A minor documentation shortcut that is widely practiced
- A permissible act if the client would have benefited from the session
Correct answer: Insurance fraud and an ethical violation requiring refusal
Falsifying treatment records constitutes fraud and an ethical violation; BHPs must refuse and report such requests through appropriate channels.
Question 6: Informed consent in behavioral health must include which of the following elements?
- A guarantee of treatment success
- The clinician's personal values about treatment
- Information about risks, benefits, alternatives, and the right to withdraw (Correct answer)
- A non-disclosure agreement signed by the client
Correct answer: Information about risks, benefits, alternatives, and the right to withdraw
Valid informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, available alternatives, and the client's right to refuse or withdraw from treatment.
Question 7: A BHP who shares confidential client information with a spouse during a casual conversation at home is violating which ethical standard?
- Competence
- Confidentiality (Correct answer)
- Justice
- Self-determination
Correct answer: Confidentiality
Confidentiality prohibits disclosure of client information outside of legally or ethically permissible channels, including to personal family members.
BHP Ethics & Professional Standards 3
A BHP working in a community mental health center begins developing strong romantic feelings toward a current client.
The most ethical course of action is to: