Course Goals:

In practicing a profession, three interrelated but distinct areas come into play: professional values, ethics, and the law. Although all three areas are related to one another, sometimes they can conflict with one another. Sometimes, also, values can conflict with other values, as can ethics. When ethics conflict, an ethical dilemma results. When professional values conflict with professional ethics, the organized and generally agreed-upon framework of an ethical code is vital. When ethics and the law collide, it may be necessary to consult the relevant professional organization. The American Medical Association, for example, has become involved when the law required that a physician be present at an execution. The AMA code of ethics explicitly forbids physicians from participating in capital punishment (Henry, 2018).

Learing Outcomes: 

After completing this course, the learner will be able to:

1. Describe the importance of professional values and ethics in mental health practice
2. Identify the role and the impact of law in mental health practice
3. Recognize and distinguish between problematic and non-problematic boundary issues in mental health practice
4. Describe ways mental health practitioners can prevent unethical or illegal behaviors in daily practice
5. Identify elements and conditions of informed consent
6. Recall the basic requirements of HIPAA and the Privacy Rule as it relates to practice
7. Describe the impact of genetics and technology on mental health practice and the unique responsibilities that are included
8. Identify a protocol for ethical decision making