Unit 1.1 DB: Benefits and LimitationsUnit

My name is Micah Mann and I am the designer of the Post University Course Human  Services 400, Ethics and Legal Practices.  This presentation is based upon chapter 1 of the  text Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions by Corey, Corey, and Callanan.  This chapter  is titled Introduction to Professional Ethics.

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Laws and ethics defines the minimumLaws and ethics defines the minimum standards society will tolerate and is enforced by government. Specifically, ethics represents the ideal standards set and is enforced by professional associations. The legal and ethical practice of most mental health professionals is regulated in all 50professionals is regulated in all 50 states. State licensing laws establish the scope of practice of professionals and how these laws will be enforced by licensing b dboards.

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The major duties of regulating boards are: to determine standards for admission into the  profession; to screen applicants applying for certification or licensure; to regulate the  practice of psychotherapy for the public good; to conduct disciplinary proceedings involving  violations of standards of professional conduct as defined by law. 

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The next two slides cover some key terms related to ethics.  Values are beliefs and attitudes  that provide direction to everyday living.  Ethics are beliefs we hold about what constitutes  right conduct. Ethics are moral principles adopted by an individual or group to provide rules  for right conduct. Morality is our perspectives of right and proper conduct and involves an  evaluation of actions on the basis of some broader cultural context or religious standard 

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Community Standards (or mores) defineCommunity Standards (or mores) define what is considered reasonable behavior when a case involving malpractice is litigated. They vary on interdisciplinary, theoretical, and geographical bases. Reasonableness is the care that isReasonableness is the care that is ordinarily exercised by others practicing within that specialty in the professional community. Professionalism has some relationship to ethical behavior, yet it isrelationship to ethical behavior, yet it is possible to act unprofessionally and still not act unethically.

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The levels of ethical practice include: Mandatory Ethics which are a level of ethical  functioning wherein counselors comply with minimal standards, acknowledging the basic  “musts” and “must nots” An example of Mandatory ethics is providing for informed  consent in professional relationships.  Aspirational Ethics refer to the highest professional  standards of conduct to which counselors can aspire.  An example is providing services pro  bono for those in the community who cannot afford needed services 

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It is important to understand the difference between principle ethics and virtue ethics.   Principle Ethics focuses on moral issues with the goal of solving a particular dilemma  and  establishing a framework to guide future ethical thinking and behavior.  This type of ethics  asks “Is this situation unethical?” Virtue Ethics focuses on character traits of the counselor  and non‐obligatory ideals, it asks “Am I doing what is best for my client?” 

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There are several terms that guide the clinician towards moral decisions.  These include:  Autonomy which is important to promote self‐determination, Beneficence which is to do  good for others and promote the well‐being of clients, Non‐maleficence or avoid doing  harm, Justice which is to be fair by giving equally to others and to treat others justly,  Fidelity which is to make realistic commitments and keep these promises, and Veracity or  to be truthful and deal honestly with clients 

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This slide describes three models of ethical decision making.  The feminist model calls for  maximum involvement of the client at every stage of the process.  It is based on the  feminist principle that power should be equalized in the therapeutic relationship.  The  transcultural integrative model addresses the need for including cultural factors in the  process of resolving ethical dilemmas  Finally, the social constructionist model focuses primarily on the social aspects of decision  making in counseling , redefines the ethical decision‐making process as an interactive  rather than an individual or intrapsychic process and places the decision in the socialrather than an individual or intrapsychic process and places the decision in the social  context itself 

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Here are the steps needed in making good ethical decisions 1. Identify the problem or dilemma 2. Identify the potential issues involved 3. Review the relevant ethics codes 4. Know the applicable laws and regulations 5. Obtain consultation 6. Consider possible and probable courses of action 7 Enumerate the consequences of various decisions7. Enumerate the consequences of various decisions 8. Choose what appears to be the best course of action

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