CAADC Professional Ethics and Confidentiality 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CAADC counselor discovers that a colleague is romantically involved with a current client. What is the counselor's primary ethical obligation?
- Confront the colleague directly and privately
- Report the situation to a supervisor or ethics board (Correct answer)
- Warn the client about boundary violations
- Document the observation and take no further action
Correct answer: Report the situation to a supervisor or ethics board
Counselors have an ethical duty to report colleague misconduct to supervisors or ethics boards to protect client welfare.
Question 2: Under 42 CFR Part 2, which of the following actions does NOT require patient consent?
- Sharing records with a probation officer
- Internal program audit or evaluation (Correct answer)
- Disclosing to a referring physician
- Releasing information to a family member
Correct answer: Internal program audit or evaluation
42 CFR Part 2 permits disclosure without consent for internal program audits, quality improvement, and research within the program.
Question 3: A client reveals they plan to harm a specific identifiable person. Under the Tarasoff duty, the counselor MUST:
- Maintain confidentiality to preserve the therapeutic relationship
- Document the threat and continue therapy without notifying anyone
- Warn the potential victim and notify law enforcement as required by state law (Correct answer)
- Consult a supervisor but take no further action until the next session
Correct answer: Warn the potential victim and notify law enforcement as required by state law
The Tarasoff duty to protect requires counselors to warn identifiable potential victims and notify appropriate authorities when a credible threat exists.
Question 4: Which ethical principle requires a CAADC counselor to act in the client's best interest, even when it conflicts with the counselor's personal values?
- Autonomy
- Nonmaleficence
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Fidelity
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence requires counselors to actively promote client well-being and act in the client's best interest above personal preferences.
Question 5: A client asks their CAADC counselor to write an exaggerated progress report to help them avoid legal consequences. The counselor should:
- Comply if it serves the client's recovery goals
- Decline and explain the ethical obligation to provide accurate documentation (Correct answer)
- Consult the client's attorney before deciding
- Write the report but note it is the client's perspective
Correct answer: Decline and explain the ethical obligation to provide accurate documentation
Counselors must maintain honesty and integrity in documentation; falsifying records violates ethical and legal standards.
Question 6: What does the ethical concept of 'fidelity' primarily refer to in addiction counseling?
- Keeping all information strictly confidential
- Honoring commitments and being trustworthy to clients (Correct answer)
- Providing equal services to all clients regardless of background
- Following agency policies over professional ethics codes
Correct answer: Honoring commitments and being trustworthy to clients
Fidelity refers to the counselor's obligation to be loyal, honest, and keep promises made to clients.
Question 7: A CAADC receives a subpoena for a client's treatment records. The most appropriate first step is to:
- Immediately release the records to comply with the court order
- Notify the client and consult legal counsel before releasing anything (Correct answer)
- Destroy the records to protect the client's privacy
- Release only records predating the subpoena
Correct answer: Notify the client and consult legal counsel before releasing anything
A subpoena alone does not override 42 CFR Part 2 protections; the counselor must notify the client and seek legal guidance before releasing SUD records.
CAADC Professional Ethics and Confidentiality 4
A CAADC counselor discovers that a colleague is romantically involved with a current client.
What is the counselor's primary ethical obligation?