Ethical Principles and Conduct Flashcards

A case manager is working with a client who requires specialized home health services. The case manager's brother-in-law owns a local agency that provides these exact services. To act in the most ethical manner, the case manager's FIRST action should be to:

Answer: Disclose the personal relationship to their supervisor and the client, and provide a list of several qualified agencies.

The most ethical action is to be transparent about the potential conflict of interest with all relevant parties (supervisor and client) and to mitigate the conflict by providing the client with multiple options. This respects the client's autonomy in decision-making and upholds the case manager's professional objectivity. Recommending the agency directly is a clear conflict of interest. Avoiding the agency altogether might withhold a quality option from the client. Arranging a discount further entangles the personal and professional relationships.

A case manager is facilitating a care conference for a competent adult client with a new, life-altering diagnosis. The client has clearly stated they wish to pursue a palliative care plan focused on comfort. However, the client's family is insisting on aggressive, curative treatments. The case manager's actions should be primarily guided by which ethical principle?

Answer: Autonomy, by advocating for the client's right to self-determination regarding their own care.

The principle of autonomy honors the right of a competent individual to make their own informed decisions about their healthcare. The case manager's primary role is to advocate for the client's expressed wishes. While beneficence (acting for the client's good) is important, it does not override the competent client's right to self-determination. Justice refers to fairness in the distribution of resources, and non-maleficence (do no harm) would be violated by ignoring the client's wishes, which could cause significant distress.

A case manager receives a phone call from a representative of a client's life insurance company, asking for a copy of the client's most recent medical assessment to process a policy update. The client's file does not contain a specific, written consent authorizing this disclosure. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the case manager to take?

Answer: Inform the caller that the information cannot be released without a specific, written authorization from the client that complies with HIPAA.

Under HIPAA and the ethical principle of confidentiality, a case manager cannot release protected health information (PHI) to a third party, such as an insurance company for underwriting purposes, without the client's explicit, written consent. The other options all represent a breach of confidentiality. The case manager has a duty to protect the client's private information.

Which of the following actions best illustrates the ethical principle of beneficence in case management practice?

Answer: Proactively arranging for evidence-based physical therapy for a client recovering from surgery to improve their mobility and functional outcome.

Beneficence is the principle of acting for the good and well-being of others and taking actions to promote their welfare. Arranging for services that are known to improve a client's health is a direct application of this principle. Equitable access relates to Justice, truthfulness relates to Veracity, and respecting a client's decision relates to Autonomy.

A case manager has been working with a client for over a year and has developed a strong, positive rapport. The client, who owns a popular local restaurant, offers the case manager a gift certificate for a free meal for two as a token of appreciation. What is the most appropriate ethical response?

Answer: Politely decline the gift, explaining that professional guidelines on avoiding dual relationships and conflicts of interest prevent them from accepting it.

The CCMC Code of Professional Conduct requires case managers to maintain objectivity and avoid dual relationships or conflicts of interest that could interfere with professional judgment. Accepting gifts, even with good intentions, can blur professional boundaries. The most ethical response is to politely decline and explain the professional boundary in a way that preserves the client relationship. While reporting to a supervisor or suggesting a charity might seem like compromises, the clearest and most ethical action is to decline the gift outright.

According to the CCMC Code of Professional Conduct, the case manager's primary allegiance is to the:

Answer: Client and their support system.

The CCMC Code of Professional Conduct emphasizes that the case manager's primary role is to act as an advocate for the client. While case managers must navigate relationships with employers, payers, and the healthcare team, their fundamental ethical obligation and allegiance is to protect and promote the well-being, interests, and autonomy of the client they are serving.