Professional Standards and Ethics Flashcards

A financial advisor recommends a high-fee investment product that benefits them personally more than it benefits the client. This is an example of:

Answer: A fiduciary breach

A fiduciary breach occurs when an advisor places their own financial interests above those of the client they are obligated to serve.

Which of the following best describes 'informed consent' in a professional context?

Answer: A professional obtaining agreement after fully disclosing risks and alternatives

Informed consent requires that a person receives complete, understandable information about a decision before voluntarily agreeing to it.

A software developer is asked to add hidden tracking features to an app without telling users. This raises which primary ethical concern?

Answer: Deception and violation of user privacy

Collecting user data without disclosure deceives users and violates their privacy rights and reasonable expectations of transparency.

In professional ethics, 'non-maleficence' means:

Answer: Avoiding actions that cause harm

Non-maleficence is the ethical obligation to refrain from causing harm, often summarized as 'first, do no harm.'

A professional is pressured by their employer to falsify test results. The ethical course of action is to:

Answer: Refuse and document the pressure received

Refusing to falsify results and documenting the pressure protects professional integrity and creates a record of potential wrongdoing.

Which situation represents a violation of professional boundaries?

Answer: Entering a romantic relationship with a current client

Romantic relationships with current clients violate professional boundaries because the power imbalance compromises objectivity and the client's welfare.

A code of ethics in a profession primarily serves to:

Answer: Set minimum standards of conduct and protect the public

A professional code of ethics establishes minimum behavioral standards that protect clients, the public, and the integrity of the profession.