CDT Legal & Ethical Considerations in Disability Trauma 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the ethical obligation of a CDT practitioner when they recognize they lack competency in a specific area of disability trauma?
- Refer to a more qualified professional or seek supervision and training (Correct answer)
- Continue providing services while self-educating
- Inform the client only if they ask directly
- Document the limitation and proceed without changes
Correct answer: Refer to a more qualified professional or seek supervision and training
Competence requires practitioners to operate within their scope of training and to seek consultation, supervision, or referral when encountering gaps.
Question 2: Which principle ensures that clients with disabilities are treated fairly and receive equitable access to trauma services?
- Justice (Correct answer)
- Nonmaleficence
- Fidelity
- Veracity
Correct answer: Justice
Justice as an ethical principle requires fair and equitable distribution of resources and services, including removing barriers for people with disabilities.
Question 3: Under HIPAA, what constitutes protected health information (PHI) relevant to CDT client records?
- Any individually identifiable health information including trauma diagnoses and treatment records (Correct answer)
- Only billing and insurance information
- Publicly available disability status information
- Anonymous group therapy participation records
Correct answer: Any individually identifiable health information including trauma diagnoses and treatment records
PHI includes any information that identifies an individual and relates to their health, including mental health and trauma treatment records.
Question 4: What does 'least restrictive environment' mean in the context of legal protections for individuals with disabilities and trauma?
- Providing services and supports in the most integrated setting appropriate to the individual's needs (Correct answer)
- Limiting client choices to reduce trauma triggers
- Restricting access to community settings for safety
- Mandating residential treatment for all trauma cases
Correct answer: Providing services and supports in the most integrated setting appropriate to the individual's needs
The least restrictive environment principle ensures individuals with disabilities receive services in community-integrated settings rather than unnecessarily segregated ones.
Question 5: What ethical boundary violation occurs when a CDT practitioner accepts gifts from clients with disabilities?
- It may create a harmful power imbalance and boundary transgression (Correct answer)
- It is acceptable as long as the gift is under $25
- It is encouraged to reinforce the therapeutic alliance
- It is only a concern in residential settings
Correct answer: It may create a harmful power imbalance and boundary transgression
Accepting gifts can distort the professional relationship, create indebtedness, and compromise the practitioner's objectivity.
Question 6: Which U.S. law mandates that public schools provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities, relevant to child trauma cases?
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Correct answer: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA mandates FAPE with related services including mental health supports for students with disabilities, intersecting with trauma-informed school practice.
CDT Legal & Ethical Considerations in Disability Trauma 2
What is the ethical obligation of a CDT practitioner when they recognize they lack competency in a specific area of disability trauma?