CRS Ethical & Legal Considerations in Recovery 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A recovery specialist disagrees with a peer's decision to use medication-assisted treatment (MAT). What is the most ethical course of action?
- Advise the peer to discontinue MAT based on personal beliefs
- Respect the peer's autonomy and support their informed treatment choices (Correct answer)
- Refer the peer to a specialist who shares the specialist's view on MAT
- Document a formal objection in the peer's file
Correct answer: Respect the peer's autonomy and support their informed treatment choices
Respecting autonomy means honoring the peer's right to make informed decisions about their own recovery, including the use of evidence-based treatments like MAT.
Question 2: When obtaining informed consent, which element is NOT required?
- Explanation of the services being provided
- Potential risks and benefits of services
- Guarantee of a specific recovery outcome (Correct answer)
- Right to withdraw consent at any time
Correct answer: Guarantee of a specific recovery outcome
Informed consent never includes guarantees of outcomes; it covers the nature of services, risks, benefits, alternatives, and the right to withdraw.
Question 3: A peer asks a recovery specialist not to share any information with their probation officer. The specialist has a signed release on file. What should the specialist do?
- Honor the peer's request and withhold all information from the probation officer
- Explain the terms of the existing release and discuss what information will be shared (Correct answer)
- Revoke the release immediately to protect the peer's confidentiality
- Share all information with the probation officer without further discussion
Correct answer: Explain the terms of the existing release and discuss what information will be shared
The specialist should review the release terms with the peer, clarify what will be shared, and explore concerns, honoring both legal obligations and the peer's autonomy.
Question 4: What is 'scope of practice' in the context of a recovery specialist's role?
- The geographic area in which a specialist is licensed to work
- The boundaries of tasks and responsibilities a specialist is trained and authorized to perform (Correct answer)
- The maximum number of peers a specialist can serve at one time
- The specific recovery model a specialist is required to use
Correct answer: The boundaries of tasks and responsibilities a specialist is trained and authorized to perform
Scope of practice defines the range of activities and responsibilities that align with a recovery specialist's training, credentials, and legal authorization.
Question 5: A recovery specialist is struggling with their own personal recovery. What is the MOST appropriate ethical action?
- Continue working without disclosure to avoid stigma
- Seek supervision, personal support, or leave if necessary to protect peers (Correct answer)
- Disclose their struggles directly to all peers they serve
- Resign immediately without seeking assistance
Correct answer: Seek supervision, personal support, or leave if necessary to protect peers
Self-care and seeking support are ethical obligations that protect both the specialist and the peers they serve from harm caused by impaired professional functioning.
Question 6: Which situation BEST describes an appropriate exception to confidentiality rules?
- A peer's employer requests information about their treatment attendance
- A peer makes a credible threat to seriously harm an identifiable third party (Correct answer)
- A family member wants updates on the peer's recovery progress
- A researcher requests anonymized data about recovery outcomes
Correct answer: A peer makes a credible threat to seriously harm an identifiable third party
The 'duty to warn' (Tarasoff principle) requires disclosure to protect identifiable third parties from serious credible threats, overriding standard confidentiality.
Question 7: A recovery specialist accepts a gift of significant monetary value from a grateful peer. This is MOST problematic because it:
- Violates tax reporting regulations
- Creates a boundary issue that can compromise the professional relationship (Correct answer)
- Reduces the peer's financial resources for recovery
- Is prohibited under the Affordable Care Act
Correct answer: Creates a boundary issue that can compromise the professional relationship
Accepting significant gifts can create a power imbalance, feelings of obligation, and blurred professional boundaries that compromise objectivity and the peer relationship.
CRS Ethical & Legal Considerations in Recovery 3
A recovery specialist disagrees with a peer's decision to use medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
What is the most ethical course of action?