Quote:
Originally Posted by ex vivo
A more real life example would have changed things, and reflected a truly ethical situation that is colored grey and not black and white. That's usually how case studies are done-so people can discuss all the many points to learn ethical decision making. (one reason why i thought the article was very stupid). And again, the biggest issue i have is that the article is framed more from a legal standpoint than an ethical one. If you look at APAs code of ethics, it's to protect the patient. This article and author focus more on the therapist, not the patient's welfare. And that this guy is the Director of Ethics at APA. That's what got me.
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The example cited is for me incidental. It's the analysis and interpretation that follows that i find revealing and disturbing. The client is treated like an object, to be transferred from one "clinician" to the next. The therapists and their clinical reality are at the center. If these guys think they know what is best for a suicidal (or any) client without asking the client, they have well and truly drunk the kool-aid.
I disagree that any code of ethics is to protect the patient. They are mainly about risk management. Here's what the APA says about termination:
10.10 terminating Therapy
(a) Psychologists terminate therapy when it becomes reasonably clear that the client/patient no longer needs the service, is not likely to benefit, or is being harmed by contin- ued service.
(b) Psychologists may terminate therapy when threat- ened or otherwise endangered by the client/patient or anoth- er person with whom the client/patient has a relationship.
(c) Except where precluded by the actions of clients/ patients or third-party payors, prior to termination psycholo- gists provide pretermination counseling and suggest alterna- tive service providers as appropriate.