EPPP Test Ethical and Legal Standards Questions and Answers

Question 1

A psychologist receives a subpoena from an attorney to produce a client's therapy records.
The psychologist has not received consent from the client to release the information.
What is the psychologist's most appropriate first step?

Accepted Answer

Contact the client, inform them of the subpoena, and seek their consent to release the records.

Answer

Release a summary of the records but withhold sensitive details.

Answer

Immediately comply with the subpoena to avoid legal penalties.

Answer

Ignore the subpoena because it is not a court order.

Question 2

The APA Ethics Code is divided into General Principles and Ethical Standards. Which of the following best describes the primary difference between these two sections?

Accepted Answer

General Principles are aspirational goals that guide psychologists, while Ethical Standards are specific, enforceable rules of conduct.

Answer

General Principles are enforceable rules for specific situations, while Ethical Standards are aspirational goals.

Answer

General Principles apply only to research activities, while Ethical Standards apply to all professional activities.

Answer

General Principles are updated annually, while Ethical Standards are revised only once per decade.

Question 3

A psychologist practices in a small, isolated rural community. The psychologist's client is a baker who has just opened the only bakery in town. The psychologist's child has a severe gluten allergy, and the baker is the only person in the community who can prepare a custom, gluten-free birthday cake for the child's upcoming party. Which of the following actions is most consistent with ethical guidelines regarding multiple relationships?

Accepted Answer

Discuss the potential for a multiple relationship with the client, assess for any risk of harm or exploitation, document the discussion, and then proceed with the business transaction.

Answer

Refuse to do business with the client to avoid any possible multiple relationship.

Answer

Order the cake but keep the transaction anonymous by having a friend pick it up.

Answer

Terminate the therapeutic relationship with the client before ordering the cake.

Question 4

The landmark legal case of Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California established the "duty to protect." This duty requires a therapist to take reasonable steps when a client communicates a serious threat of physical violence against an identifiable victim. Which of the following actions is a primary way a psychologist can discharge this duty?

Accepted Answer

Warning the potential victim and/or notifying law enforcement.

Answer

Having the client sign a no-harm contract.

Answer

Immediately terminating the therapeutic relationship with the client.

Answer

Documenting the threat thoroughly in the client's file.

Question 5

Dr. Lee is asked by a television news program to provide commentary on the psychological state of a defendant in a high-profile murder trial. Dr. Lee has not evaluated the defendant but has reviewed publicly available news reports and court documents. According to the APA Ethics Code, what is required for Dr. Lee to ethically provide commentary?

Accepted Answer

She must clearly state that she has not conducted an evaluation and clarify the basis and limitations of her opinions.

Answer

She must first obtain written consent from the defendant to discuss the case.

Answer

She must avoid giving any opinion and only state facts from the public record.

Answer

She must decline to comment, as it is unethical to discuss an individual one has not formally evaluated.

Question 6

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which of the following is an example of Protected Health Information (PHI)?

Accepted Answer

A client's diagnosis written on a billing statement sent to their insurance company.

Answer

An individual's name and address listed in a public phone directory.

Answer

A statistical report on mental health trends where all individual data has been de-identified.

Answer

A pamphlet on stress management techniques handed out in a psychologist's waiting room.

A psychologist receives a subpoena from an attorney to produce a client's therapy records.The psychologist has not received consent from the client to release the information.What is the psychologist's most appropriate first step?

A psychologist receives a subpoena from an attorney to produce a client's therapy records.
The psychologist has not received consent from the client to release the information.
What is the psychologist's most appropriate first step?