Ethics

Question 1

confidentiality

Answer 1

based on the broader right to privacy and refers to a psychologist’s obligation to protect clients, research participants, students, and others from unauthorized disclosure of information that they reveal in the context of a professional relationship with the psychologist.

Question 2

Tarasoff decisions

Answer 2

duty to protect; not legal

Question 3

protected health information (PHI)

Answer 3

individually identifiable health information that is maintained or transmitted in any medium and provides information about (1) a person’s past, present, or future physical and mental health condition; (2) the provision of health care to the person; or (3) past, present, or future payments for health care provided to the person

Question 4

covered entities

Answer 4

health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers who transmit health information electronically

Question 5

health care provider

Answer 5

any person or entity that provides, bills for, and/or is paid for health care as a normal part of business

Question 6

privilege

Answer 6

a person’s legal right to not have confidential information (e.g., communications to the therapist) revealed in court or a legal proceeding

Question 7

capitated

Answer 7

providers receive a fixed dollar amount over a specific period of time to cover the service needs of a fixed number of clients; a fixed amount of money paid per person, not by the visit or procedure

Question 8

privileged communication

Answer 8

legal term which refers to a patient’s right to refuse to have information, disclosed in psychotherapy, released in a legal proceeding

Question 9

utilization review

Answer 9

assess the use of benefits and reduce or eliminate inappropriate or unnecessary use of health care resources

Question 10

the primary purpose of licensure is…

Answer 10

to “protect the public by limiting licensure to persons who are qualified to practice psychology as defined by state or provincial law”

Question 11

The Ethics Code intention

Answer 11

provide guidance for psychologists and standards of professional conduct that can be applied by the APA and by other bodies that choose to adopt them

Question 12

competence

Answer 12

one’s education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience.

Question 13

how to choose referral vs. consultation

Answer 13

The client’s welfare is always of paramount concern when making this determination: Referral would be the best choice when there is substantial risk that the therapist-client difference or the therapist’s lack of experience is likely to cause the client more harm than good;
When a psychologist suspects that a personal problem might interfere with his/her effectiveness, consultation is appropriate; but when a psychologist knows that a personal problem is impairing his/her effectiveness, referrals are called for.

Question 14

vicarious liability

Answer 14

legally responsible for the actions of their supervisees and employees; when the supervisor/employer has the right, ability, and responsibility to control the actions of the supervisee/employee and there is a substantial disparity between the knowledge, training, or experience of the supervisor/employer and that of the supervisee/employee

Question 15

multiple relationship

Answer 15

occurs when a psychologist is in a professional role with a person and (1) at the same time is in another role with the same person, (2) at the same time is in a relationship with a person closely associated with or related to the person with whom the psychologist has the professional relationship, or (3) promises to enter into another relationship in the future with the person or a person closely associated with or related to the person

Question 16

According to Standard 4.05, confidentiality is to be maintained except when

Answer 16

(1) the client has waived his or her right to confidentiality; (2) identifying information is adequately disguised or removed; or (3) a breach of confidentiality is required or permitted by law (e.g., when a client poses an imminent danger to self or others).

Question 17

health maintenance organization (HMO)

Answer 17

A type of health insurance plan with its own network of doctors, hospitals, and healthcare providers who have agreed to accept payment at a certain level for any services they provide, keeping costs low but limiting coverage to care from doctors who work for or contract with them. It generally won’t cover out-of-network care except in an emergency.

Question 18

employee assistance program (EAP)

Answer 18

voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees who have personal and/or work-related problems

Question 19

client danger to self choices

Answer 19

when a client threatens suicide and the therapist determines that the client does not pose an immediate danger to him/herself, have the client sign a “no-suicide” contract

Question 20

client danger to self

Answer 20

legally and ethically justified

Question 21

HIV disclosure

Answer 21

(a) the provider is aware of an identifiable third party who is at risk for infection; (b) the provider has reason to believe that the third party has no reason to suspect that he or she is at risk; and (c) the client has been urged to inform the third party and has refused or is considered unreliable in his or her willingness to do so

Question 22

psychotherapy notes protection

Answer 22

not included in PHI; must be kept separate from the rest of the individual’s record

Question 23

exception to privilege

Answer 23

when the court appoints a psychologist to evaluate a defendant in a court case

Question 24

examples of insurance fraud

Answer 24

(1) billing for missed appointments if that practice is not agreed upon by the insurance company in advance; (2) routinely waiving co-payments without the insurance company agreeing to this practice; or (3) providing inaccurate information to the insurance company

Question 25

expert witness

Answer 25

a “person who has special training, knowledge, skill, or experience in an area relevant to the resolution of the legal dispute and is allowed to offer an opinion as testimony in court”

Question 26

fact witness

Answer 26

a person “who testifies as to what he/she has seen, heard, or otherwise observed regarding a circumstance, event or occurrence as it actually took place; generally not allowed to offer opinions, address issues that they do not have personal knowledge of or respond to hypothetical situations”

Question 27

subpeona

Answer 27

a legal document that requires the recipient to testify in court or other legal proceeding on a specified date and/or to produce documents

Question 28

competency to stand trial

Answer 28

a defendant’s mental state at the time of the trial

Question 29

insanity

Answer 29

a legal (not a psychological) term that refers to a defendant’s mental state at the time he/she committed the crime and is used to determine the defendant’s criminal liability