BCAT Ethics and Legal Considerations Questions and Answers

Question 1

During a lunch break at a coffee shop, a BCAT is talking to a friend who asks about their work. The BCAT describes a challenging but ultimately successful interaction with a client, using the client's first name and mentioning the neighborhood they live in. Which ethical principle is the BCAT primarily violating?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Client information is protected and must be kept private. Discussing identifiable client information, such as a name and location, in a public setting with an unauthorized person is a direct violation of confidentiality rules like those outlined in HIPAA.

Question 2

A parent expresses frustration with a specific skill acquisition target in the behavior plan, stating it's 'not important,' and asks the BCAT to stop working on it. The most ethical and professional response from the BCAT is to:

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the parent's concern, state that you must follow the plan as written, and refer the parent to the supervising BCBA to discuss their concerns.

Answer

A BCAT's role is to implement the treatment plan designed and supervised by a qualified professional (e.g., a BCBA). They do not have the authority to alter the plan. The correct action is to direct the parent's concerns to the supervisor, who is responsible for all clinical decisions and modifications to the plan.

Question 3

Which of the following actions by a BCAT would be considered an unethical dual relationship?

Accepted Answer

Accepting a regular weekend babysitting job for a current client.

Answer

A dual relationship occurs when a professional has a secondary, personal or business relationship with a client or their family. Babysitting is a separate, personal/financial relationship that can impair professional judgment and create a conflict of interest, and is therefore prohibited.

Question 4

A BCAT is assisting a 14-year-old client with their showering routine as part of their treatment plan. To uphold the client's dignity, the BCAT should prioritize:

Accepted Answer

Respecting the client's privacy as much as possible while providing necessary support.

Answer

Upholding client dignity involves treating individuals with respect, recognizing their worth, and protecting their rights, including the right to privacy. Especially with personal care routines for an adolescent, the BCAT must be mindful of providing support in the least intrusive way possible.

Question 5

A BCAT realizes they forgot to collect frequency data on a target behavior for the first hour of a three-hour session. To maintain professional integrity, the BCAT must:

Accepted Answer

Leave the data for that period blank, document the error, and inform the supervisor.

Answer

Professional integrity demands honesty and accuracy in all aspects of work, especially data collection, which is the basis for clinical decisions. Fabricating or estimating data is a serious ethical violation. The only ethical option is to be transparent about the error by documenting it and reporting it to the supervisor.

(BCAT) Board Certified Autism Technician Practice Test

(BCAT) Board Certified Autism Technician Practice Test

BCAT Ethics and Legal Considerations Questions and Answers