HSP Ethics and Professional Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A psychologist working in a hospital setting is asked by a nurse colleague to diagnose a patient 'informally' without conducting an assessment. The psychologist should:
- Provide an informal opinion since it is a collegial request
- Decline, as diagnoses require adequate assessment and formal evaluation (Correct answer)
- Offer a differential diagnosis as a compromise
- Review the chart only and provide a preliminary diagnosis
Correct answer: Decline, as diagnoses require adequate assessment and formal evaluation
APA Standard 9.01 requires adequate assessment data before rendering a diagnosis; informal opinions without assessment are ethically prohibited.
Question 2: Which principle from Beauchamp and Childress's bioethical framework obligates psychologists to take active steps to benefit clients?
- Autonomy
- Non-maleficence
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Justice
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence requires psychologists to act in the positive interest of clients, going beyond merely avoiding harm.
Question 3: A psychologist receives a subpoena for client records in a civil case. What is the most appropriate initial step?
- Comply immediately and send all records to the court
- Notify and consult with the client, then seek legal guidance before releasing records (Correct answer)
- Refuse the subpoena on the basis of confidentiality
- Release records only after receiving a court order
Correct answer: Notify and consult with the client, then seek legal guidance before releasing records
Upon receiving a subpoena, psychologists should notify the client, consult with legal counsel, and assert privilege unless a court order compels disclosure.
Question 4: A psychologist completes a forensic evaluation and forms an opinion unfavorable to the retaining attorney's client. Ethically, the psychologist should:
- Soften the opinion to be consistent with the attorney's position
- Withdraw from the case to avoid conflict
- Maintain the objective, evidence-based opinion regardless of its impact on the case (Correct answer)
- Consult with the opposing attorney to ensure balance
Correct answer: Maintain the objective, evidence-based opinion regardless of its impact on the case
Forensic psychologists must maintain objectivity and accuracy; altering opinions based on the retaining party's interests violates APA and SGFP ethics.
Question 5: A psychologist notices they have developed strong romantic feelings for a current therapy client. The FIRST action should be:
- Immediately terminate therapy and pursue the relationship after 2 years
- Seek personal therapy or supervision to address the feelings and protect the client (Correct answer)
- Disclose the feelings to the client to maintain transparency
- Transfer the client to a colleague without explanation
Correct answer: Seek personal therapy or supervision to address the feelings and protect the client
When experiencing countertransference feelings, psychologists must seek supervision or personal therapy to prevent harm to the client and protect professional boundaries.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a 'small world' or 'unavoidable multiple relationship' that is LEAST likely to be ethically problematic?
- Providing therapy to an employee you supervise at work
- Being a client's therapist and also their landlord
- Treating the only available referral in a rural community where incidental contact is inevitable (Correct answer)
- Serving simultaneously as a client's therapist and expert witness in their legal case
Correct answer: Treating the only available referral in a rural community where incidental contact is inevitable
In rural or underserved communities, overlapping relationships may be unavoidable and manageable with proper informed consent and boundary monitoring.
Question 7: The APA Ethics Code's Aspirational Principles differ from Enforceable Standards in that aspirational principles:
- Can result in license revocation if violated
- Are ideals that guide psychologists toward the highest conduct but are not subject to disciplinary action (Correct answer)
- Apply only to researchers, not clinicians
- Are legally binding under HIPAA
Correct answer: Are ideals that guide psychologists toward the highest conduct but are not subject to disciplinary action
Aspirational principles (General Principles A–E) represent ideals for ethical conduct but are not themselves enforceable; only the Ethical Standards are enforceable.
HSP Ethics and Professional Standards 3
A psychologist working in a hospital setting is asked by a nurse colleague to diagnose a patient 'informally' without conducting an assessment.
The psychologist should: