Ethical & Legal Compliance Flashcards

Which of the following best describes 'negligence per se' in the context of a CPI physical intervention?

Answer: Violating a statute or regulation that directly causes harm to the individual

Negligence per se occurs when a statutory or regulatory violation directly causes harm, automatically establishing the breach element of a negligence claim.

Staff observes that a client's behavior support plan has not been reviewed in over a year, despite significant behavioral changes. The ethical obligation is to:

Answer: Advocate for an immediate plan review to ensure the plan reflects current needs

Ethical care requires that intervention plans remain current and responsive to the individual's evolving needs, necessitating timely review and updates.

What is the significance of the 'least restrictive alternative' (LRA) standard in crisis intervention law and ethics?

Answer: It requires that interventions impose the minimum necessary restriction on individual freedom

The LRA standard legally and ethically requires that the intervention chosen restricts the individual's freedom only to the degree necessary to ensure safety.

When is an organization legally required to notify a regulatory body about a restraint-related injury?

Answer: Typically within a specified timeframe defined by state or federal regulation, regardless of severity

Most US states and federal programs mandate timely mandatory incident reporting to regulatory bodies for restraint-related injuries, independent of internal findings.

A CPI-trained professional learns that a client has been restrained by untrained staff at another facility. Their ethical responsibility includes:

Answer: Assessing the client for injuries and considering a report to appropriate protective authorities

Knowledge of potential abuse or unsafe restraint by untrained staff obligates the professional to assess harm and consider mandatory protective reporting.

Which action by a staff member would most likely constitute 'abuse of authority' in a crisis intervention context?

Answer: Threatening a client with restraint as punishment for non-crisis noncompliance

Using the threat of restraint as a punitive tool rather than a safety measure constitutes abuse of authority and violates both CPI ethics and legal standards.

Under CPI ethical standards, what does 'transparency' require in the context of restraint use?

Answer: Open and honest communication with clients, families, and oversight bodies about when and why restraints are used

CPI ethics demand transparency with all stakeholders — clients, families, and regulators — about restraint practices, rationale, and outcomes.