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10 Ways Practitioners Can Avoid Frequent Ethical Pitfalls

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About the Course

Boost your ethical know-how with practical tips on avoiding common ethical quandaries. The article points out that the best defense against an ethical problems is a good offense. By looking out for foreseeable conflicts and discussing them frankly with colleagues and clients, practitioners can avoid the misunderstandings, hurt feelings and sticky situations that lead to hearings before ethics boards, lawsuits, loss of license or professional membership, or even more dire consequences. The article encourages practitioners to think about ethics as a way of asking “How can I be even better in my practice?” Good ethical practice is good risk management practice.” Please Note: As always, when weighing ethical decisions please consult the code of ethics for your particular discipline as well as the state mental health statutes applicable to your practice.

This course is based on the reading-based online article, 10 Ways Practitioners Can Avoid Frequent Ethical Pitfalls created by Deborah Smith in 2003.

Publication Date:

APA Monitor, Volume 34, No. 1 January 2003

Course Material Author

Deborah Smith
American Psychological Association Monitor Staff

Deborah Smith authored the material only, and was not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Course Creator

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially addiction counselors, psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, and nurses who seek knowledge about using good ethical practice to provide good professional practice. It is appropriate for all levels of participants' knowledge.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

  1. Discuss ways to protect confidentiality
  2. Explain what constitutes a multiple relationship
  3. Discuss respect of people's autonomy in terms of informed consent
  4. Discuss supervisory responsibilities
  5. Cite examples that stress the importance to identify your client and your role
  6. Discuss record Keeping Guidelines
  7. Explain the difference between abandonment and termination
  8. Explain the importance to practice only where you have expertise
  9. Discuss what to adhere to when providing expert opinion
  10. Discuss error to avoid when billing

Disclosure to Learners

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Faculty: Keith Gibson, Ph.D.

There are no relevant disclosures.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Exam Questions

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FAQs

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  • What do I have to do to complete the course?

    To complete the course, review the course objectives, then review the material, and then pass the exam with a score of 75% or greater and lastly complete an evaluation.

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Course Retired
Course Number 10020
1 CE credit hour
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  • Reading-Based Online
Exam Fee $5.97
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