Ethical Risk Management:

Guidelines for Practice


TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PREFACE

ETHICAL RISK MANAGEMENT: SOME PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

Understanding Ethical and Legal Standards; Obtaining Adequate Informed Consent; Practicing Within Your Area of Competence; Being Aware of Child Custody Evaluations; Using Projective Retrospective Thinking; Consulting With a Colleague; Documenting Your Decisions in Writing; Maintaining Clear Boundaries With Patients; Keeping Communication Channels Open; Aspiring to a Standard of Excellence; Summary of Ethical Risk-Management Considerations; Points to Remember

ETHICAL DECISION MAKING: DOING THE NEXT RIGHT THING:

An Ethical Decision-Making Model; Understanding Limitations of Decision-Making Models; Identifying Conflicts Between Ethical and Legal Guidelines; Solving Ethical Problems Before They Arise; Summary of Decision-Making Guidelines; Points to Remember

INFORMED CONSENT ISSUES: PREVENTING ETHICAL PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY ARISE:

An Overview of Informed Consent; Understanding the Ethical Principles; Determining Capacity to Consent; Providing Significant Information; Avoiding Undue Influence; Obtaining Written Documentation; Exceptions to Informed Consent; Considering Legal Standards; Considering Managed Care; Using Informed Consent Forms; Summary of Informed Consent Considerations; Points to Remember

RESPONDING ETHICALLY TO COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS:

Responding to the Notice of Investigation; There Is No Such Thing as a Frivolous Complaint; Being a Colleague, Not an Adversary; Being a Behaviorist When Explaining Details; Being Able to Explain What You Did and Why You Did It; Learning Not To Blame The Client; Learning How to Turn Errors into Amends; Showing Concern for Your Client's Welfare; Being Able to Note Any Peer Consultations; Thinking in Terms of Aspirational Behavior; Being Aware of Procedures and Deadlines; Understanding the Committee Findings; Turning a Negative into a Positive; Summary of Responding to Ethics Complaints; Points to Remember

APPENDICES:

A: Informed Consent for Psychological Services; B: Informed Consent for Financial Responsibility; C: Informed Consent Checklist; D: Informed Consent for Independent Consultative Examination; E: Letter of Agreement Regarding Financial Responsibility for Expert Testimony; F: Statement of Understanding for Unauthorized Services and for Services Beyond Medical Necessity; G: Record of Conversation

REFERENCES

SUBJECT INDEX