Ethics Paper

Ethics Paper

  • Submitted By: kgwallin
  • Date Submitted: 03/12/2009 9:42 AM
  • Category: Psychology
  • Words: 297
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 600

Kristina Wallin
Ethics paper:

It is unethical for a therapist to disclose any information about their patients to anyone. In this situation, the therapist points the patient out and then continues to describe the patients personal information. This goes against more than one of the principles in the American Psychological Associations Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
First and foremost it breaks chapter 4 , privacy and confidentiality. In 4.01, labeled maintaining confidentiality, it clearly states that psychologists primary obligation is to protect the patients personal and confidential information. By disclosing this private information with her husband this therapist is proving incompetence by not taking the reasonable precautions in order to protect the patient.
In Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence, the main objective is to do no harm. It also states that it is a psychologists job to minimize and avoid harm when possible. The therapist needs to understand that their actions not only effect themselves but effect the well being of their patient. In Principle E: Respect for Peoples Rights and Dignity, this is stressed . This therapist is clearly not respecting her patients rights for confidentiality and privacy.
This situation is clearly unethical and the therapist should lose her license to practice. Not only did she carelessly break patient therapist confidentiality, but in doing so put her patient in a situation that was harmful. By pointing the patient out, the husband could now identify the patient and expose her personal information to others. ‘Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination’. This is found in Principle E, and shows how therapists should be treating their patients. This therapist is obviously incompetent and should not have others well being in their hands.

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