Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling Flashcards

HIPAA primarily governs which aspect of counseling practice?

Answer: The privacy and security of clients' protected health information

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, establishes federal standards for protecting the privacy and security of individually identifiable health information.

When a minor client discloses abuse, the counselor's ethical obligation is to:

Answer: File a mandatory report regardless of parental consent

Mandatory reporting laws supersede confidentiality when a minor discloses abuse; counselors must report the suspected abuse regardless of parental consent or client wishes.

The ethical principle of 'autonomy' in counseling refers to:

Answer: Respecting the client's right to make their own decisions

Autonomy is the ethical principle that recognizes and respects clients' rights to self-determination and to make informed choices about their own lives.

Which ethical principle refers to the counselor's obligation to 'do no harm'?

Answer: Nonmaleficence

Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid actions that cause harm to clients, and is one of the six foundational ethical principles outlined in the ACA Code of Ethics.

A client's right to access their own records is addressed primarily by:

Answer: FERPA and HIPAA

HIPAA grants adult patients the right to access their own mental health records, while FERPA provides similar rights for educational records; both are key legal frameworks for record access.

In an emergency where a client is an imminent danger to self, a counselor may ethically:

Answer: Breach confidentiality to initiate hospitalization or safety measures

Imminent danger to self constitutes a recognized exception to confidentiality, permitting counselors to take necessary steps — including hospitalization — to protect the client's life.