1. Identify the potential ethical violations or issues in the scenario, and then
ID: 3495185 • Letter: 1
Question
1. Identify the potential ethical violations or issues in the scenario, and then provide a detailed rationale for why you identified one such violation or issue.
2. Evaluate the potential consequences for the individual’s actions, using specific examples to support your claims.
3. Acknowledge a seemingly sensible rebuttal or counterargument to your position, and then assess its merits.
4. Defend your position throughout your essay by intergrading a reasonable assessment of the ethical principles you considered in your evaluation of the case study (autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and fidelity).
Dr. Suzie Williams is a well-known local counselor who specializes in treating men with all types of addictions, especially sexual addictions. Suzie has a reputation of being compassionate and caring, and even visits her client’s homes at all hours of the day and night to support them. Some may consider Suzie to be a bit too dedicated, but her results speak for themselves: according to the data collected, her success rate is over 90%.
However, rumors begin to circulate around professional circles that Susie is a little too familiar with her clients. Suzie is reportedly seen in public with her clients going to parks, movies, and restaurants. When a trusted colleague approaches Suzie with his concerns, Suzie simply downplays her colleague’s concern and suggests that he does not understand how to appropriately work with a clientele with such complex problems.
Explanation / Answer
Question: Identify the potential ethical violations or issues in the scenario, and then provide a detailed rationale for why you identified one such violation or issue.
Answer:
American Psychological Association’s ethical principles and code of conduct outline five basic principles that are aspirational and ten enforceable standards of conduct guiding in decision and behaviours of the psychologists involved in providing various professional services including counselling.
One the these ethical principle titled ‘Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity’ expects a psychologist to respect the individual’s right for privacy and confidentiality. In the scenario you mentioned in the question i.e.
Dr. Suzie Williams is a well-known local counselor who specializes in treating men with all types of addictions, especially sexual addictions……..even visits her client’s homes at all hours of the day and night to support them. Some may consider Suzie to be a bit too dedicated, ……………………………………………….
rumors begin to circulate around professional circles that Susie is a little too familiar with her clients. Suzie is reportedly seen in public with her clients going to parks, movies, and restaurant…..complex problems.
Dr Suzie might overstep one or more ethical standard of conduct related this principle. Specifically the two potential ethical violations that may occur in this scenario.
'Human Relations' - wherein it is mentioned that a psychologist should refrain from entering into multiple relationships with their clients. This may impair their objectivity, his or her competence and effectiveness in performing the professional role. It might also otherwise risk exploitation of the client who is in professional relationship with the psychologist. When a counsellor engage in relationships beyond client –professional relationship it may become not only difficult to navigate multiple relationships but also can lead to conflict of interests. In this particular scenario where the consultant is specializing in the area of sexual addiction the chances of exploitation of client increases even more if the psychologists involves herself with the clients in relationship outside the professional set-up. Secondly the standard of
Privacy and confidentiality also guides a professional for minimal intrusion into privacy – a psychologists should collect only information that is needed for the purpose of delivering her professional services. On the count also Dr Suzie seems to be overstepping the ethical standard.
Therefore her professional colleagues are right in raising the alarm that Susie is a little too familiar with her clients.
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