OPELA Professional Ethics and Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher suspects a student is being abused at home but is uncertain. Under US professional ethics standards, the teacher should:
- Wait until they are 100% certain before acting
- Report the reasonable suspicion to child protective services as required by law (Correct answer)
- Discuss the situation with other teachers to gather more evidence
- Contact the parents directly to resolve the matter
Correct answer: Report the reasonable suspicion to child protective services as required by law
Mandatory reporters are legally and ethically required to report reasonable suspicion, not proven abuse, to protect vulnerable individuals.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'professional competence' as an ethical standard?
- Having a professional license regardless of current knowledge
- Practicing only within the boundaries of one's education, training, and experience (Correct answer)
- Completing the minimum required continuing education hours
- Delegating all complex tasks to more experienced colleagues
Correct answer: Practicing only within the boundaries of one's education, training, and experience
Competence requires professionals to recognize and practice within the limits of their verified skills and knowledge at all times.
Question 3: A healthcare professional shares a patient's diagnosis with a family member without the patient's consent. This most clearly violates:
- The principle of beneficence
- HIPAA and the ethical duty of confidentiality (Correct answer)
- The standard of care protocol
- Non-maleficence
Correct answer: HIPAA and the ethical duty of confidentiality
HIPAA and professional ethics prohibit disclosing protected health information without explicit patient authorization except in defined circumstances.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a professional code of ethics?
- To protect the profession from public criticism
- To increase membership fees for professional associations
- To provide a framework guiding professional conduct and decision-making (Correct answer)
- To guarantee employment for license holders
Correct answer: To provide a framework guiding professional conduct and decision-making
Codes of ethics establish shared standards that guide professionals in making decisions that protect those they serve and uphold the profession's integrity.
Question 5: A lawyer receives a document accidentally sent by opposing counsel that may benefit their client. Ethically, the lawyer should:
- Use the document immediately to gain a strategic advantage
- Notify opposing counsel and follow professional conduct rules regarding inadvertent disclosure (Correct answer)
- Destroy the document to avoid complications
- Share it with the client for their opinion
Correct answer: Notify opposing counsel and follow professional conduct rules regarding inadvertent disclosure
Professional ethics and bar association rules require notifying opposing counsel of inadvertent disclosures and often prohibit reviewing such materials.
Question 6: Which ethical concept requires treating similar cases similarly and distributing benefits and burdens fairly?
- Fidelity
- Justice (Correct answer)
- Veracity
- Autonomy
Correct answer: Justice
Justice as an ethical principle demands fairness, equity, and consistent treatment across comparable situations.
Question 7: A psychologist continues to treat a client despite recognizing that the therapeutic relationship has become inappropriate due to personal feelings. This violates:
- The duty to warn third parties
- Professional boundaries and the ethical obligation to seek consultation or referral (Correct answer)
- Mandatory reporting requirements
- The principle of beneficence only
Correct answer: Professional boundaries and the ethical obligation to seek consultation or referral
Maintaining professional boundaries is a core ethical duty; when boundaries are compromised, referral and consultation are required to protect the client.
OPELA Professional Ethics and Standards 3
A teacher suspects a student is being abused at home but is uncertain.
Under US professional ethics standards, the teacher should: