Ethical Problem-Solving and Confidentiality Flashcards

A peer specialist is subpoenaed to testify about a person they support. Before testifying, they should:

Answer: Obtain written consent from the person or a court order before disclosing protected information

Protected information requires either valid consent from the person or a lawful court order before a peer specialist may disclose it in legal proceedings.

The 'least restrictive means' principle in confidentiality means that peer specialists should:

Answer: Share only the minimum information necessary to accomplish a legitimate purpose

Minimum necessary disclosure limits the privacy impact of any information sharing to only what is required for the specific purpose.

A peer specialist supports someone in a rural area and discovers the person is also a neighbor. The best course of action is to:

Answer: Discuss the situation openly with a supervisor and develop a boundary management plan

In rural settings, overlapping relationships are common; supervision and a clear boundary plan help manage rather than eliminate the dual relationship.

If a person discloses that they were abused as a child by someone who no longer has access to children, the peer specialist's mandatory reporting obligation is:

Answer: Generally not triggered because the abuse is historical and no current child is at risk

Mandatory reporting laws are generally designed to protect children currently at risk; historical abuse with no ongoing risk usually does not trigger a mandatory report.

A peer specialist's personal social media post expressing strong opinions about a controversial political issue is seen by a person they support. The ethical concern is that:

Answer: The post may compromise the perceived neutrality and trustworthiness of the peer specialist

Public personal opinions can undermine the therapeutic relationship by making the person feel judged or politically alienated.

When a peer specialist disagrees with a treatment team's decision about a person's care, the ethical way to advocate is to:

Answer: Raise concerns through appropriate professional channels, such as team meetings or supervision

Advocacy through proper channels preserves both the person's interests and the peer specialist's professional role without undermining the team.

A person discloses they are in a relationship with another participant in the same peer support group. The peer specialist's primary concern should be:

Answer: Whether the relationship violates program rules and affects group safety and confidentiality

Intra-group relationships can compromise confidentiality and create power dynamics that affect the safety and openness of the group environment.