CT Ethical & Professional Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A thanatologist is approached to lead a grief support group for members of a religious community whose beliefs differ significantly from the thanatologist's own. The ethical obligation is to:
- Decline because of value differences
- Accept only if the thanatologist converts to that religion
- Practice within competence while respecting the community's beliefs (Correct answer)
- Refer all members to a co-religionist counselor
Correct answer: Practice within competence while respecting the community's beliefs
Thanatologists must provide culturally competent care that respects diverse belief systems while working within their scope of practice.
Question 2: What does the ethical obligation of 'veracity' specifically require of a thanatologist?
- Disclosing all client information to family members
- Being honest with clients even when information is difficult (Correct answer)
- Providing only positive prognoses to maintain hope
- Sharing personal opinions about end-of-life choices
Correct answer: Being honest with clients even when information is difficult
Veracity obligates professionals to be truthful and honest with clients, including sharing difficult information sensitively.
Question 3: A thanatologist working in hospice discovers that a staff nurse is not following pain management protocols, causing patient suffering. The most ethical response is to:
- Document the issue and report through appropriate organizational channels (Correct answer)
- Confront the nurse aggressively in front of the patient
- Ignore it as it is outside the thanatologist's scope
- Directly administer pain medication to the patient
Correct answer: Document the issue and report through appropriate organizational channels
Reporting through proper organizational channels addresses the ethical obligation to advocate for patient welfare while respecting institutional processes.
Question 4: In the context of CT ethics, 'scope of practice' primarily means a thanatologist should:
- Only work with clients who are actively dying
- Limit practice to activities consistent with training, education, and competence (Correct answer)
- Avoid all collaboration with medical professionals
- Specialize in only one type of loss
Correct answer: Limit practice to activities consistent with training, education, and competence
Scope of practice defines the boundaries of professional activity based on one's education, training, and demonstrated competence.
Question 5: A bereaved client discloses that they plan to end their own life within the week. The thanatologist's ethical and legal priority is to:
- Maintain strict confidentiality and document the conversation
- Assess lethality and take appropriate safety measures, including breaking confidentiality if necessary (Correct answer)
- Encourage the client to discuss it with family first
- Schedule a follow-up appointment for next week
Correct answer: Assess lethality and take appropriate safety measures, including breaking confidentiality if necessary
Imminent risk of suicide overrides standard confidentiality obligations, requiring lethality assessment and protective action.
Question 6: Which ethical principle is most directly applied when a thanatologist ensures that services are accessible to clients regardless of their financial situation?
- Autonomy
- Fidelity
- Justice (Correct answer)
- Veracity
Correct answer: Justice
Justice requires fair and equitable distribution of services and resources, including accessibility regardless of socioeconomic status.
Question 7: A thanatologist who is also a close friend of a recently bereaved person is asked to provide formal grief counseling. The primary ethical concern is:
- Lack of empathy due to personal involvement
- Dual relationship that compromises professional objectivity (Correct answer)
- Violation of confidentiality expectations
- Inadequate documentation of sessions
Correct answer: Dual relationship that compromises professional objectivity
Pre-existing personal relationships create dual relationships that can impair professional judgment and objectivity.
CT Ethical & Professional Standards 3
A thanatologist is approached to lead a grief support group for members of a religious community whose beliefs differ significantly from the thanatologist's own.
The ethical obligation is to: