Ethics and Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real HSP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics and Professional Standards flashcards as text
A psychologist is asked to testify as a fact witness in a case involving a former client. The psychologist has not been retained as an expert. Ethically, the psychologist should:
Answer: Testify only about factual observations within the therapeutic relationship, not offer expert opinions
As a fact witness, a psychologist may testify only about direct factual observations, not render expert psychological opinions about the client.
According to APA guidelines, when can a psychologist ethically use deception in research?
Answer: When the study could not be conducted otherwise, the deception is not expected to cause harm, and participants are debriefed promptly
APA Standard 8.07 permits deception research when scientifically justified, harm is not expected, and full debriefing follows as soon as feasible.
A psychologist discovers a colleague has been impaired by alcohol during client sessions. The MOST ethical response is to:
Answer: Confront the colleague informally and, if the problem persists, take further action including reporting
APA Ethics Standard 1.04 encourages informal resolution first when feasible; escalating to formal reporting is appropriate if the issue is not resolved.
Which ethical standard governs how psychologists must handle test security and copyrighted assessment materials?
Answer: Standard 9.11 – Maintaining Test Security
APA Standard 9.11 requires psychologists to make reasonable efforts to maintain the integrity and security of tests and other assessment techniques.
A client who has completed therapy requests their complete therapy notes, including process notes. Under HIPAA and APA ethics, the psychologist should:
Answer: Provide a treatment summary and, for process notes, may decline access if disclosure would harm the client
HIPAA allows psychologists to withhold psychotherapy notes from patients under certain conditions; a treatment summary typically satisfies the access requirement.
A psychologist who provides telehealth services to a client in another state must primarily be aware of:
Answer: Licensure requirements and regulations in the client's state of residence
Psychologists practicing across state lines via telehealth must comply with the licensure laws of the state where the client is physically located.
What is the defining characteristic of 'therapeutic privilege' and why is it considered ethically problematic?
Answer: Withholding information from clients on the grounds it might harm them, which undermines informed consent and autonomy
Therapeutic privilege, withholding information to prevent client harm, undermines the informed consent process and the client's right to self-determination.