Professional Standards and Ethics Flashcards

A C2-level professional discovers a colleague has been falsifying client progress reports. What is the most ethical course of action?

Answer: Report the misconduct to a supervisor or ethics board

Reporting misconduct to the appropriate authority upholds professional integrity and protects clients and the organization.

Which principle most directly governs a professional's duty to maintain competence in their field?

Answer: Continuing professional development

Continuing professional development ensures practitioners remain current with evolving standards, techniques, and knowledge.

When a professional faces a conflict of interest, the FIRST step is to:

Answer: Disclose the conflict to the relevant parties

Disclosure is the first and most critical step in managing a conflict of interest transparently and ethically.

A client shares sensitive personal information during a professional engagement. Under professional ethics, this information:

Answer: Must be kept strictly confidential unless there is a legal obligation to disclose

Client confidentiality is a cornerstone of professional ethics and may only be breached under specific legal or safety obligations.

Which scenario represents a breach of professional boundaries?

Answer: Accepting a significant personal gift from a client you serve

Accepting significant personal gifts from clients creates a power imbalance and compromises professional objectivity.

What does the principle of 'non-maleficence' require of a professional?

Answer: Avoid causing harm to clients through actions or negligence

Non-maleficence is the ethical obligation to avoid actions that could harm clients, colleagues, or the public.

A professional is asked to endorse a product by a vendor who is also their client. This situation primarily raises concerns about:

Answer: Conflict of interest

Endorsing a client's product creates a conflict of interest that can compromise the professional's objectivity and credibility.