Ethics for Fresh Graduates
Despite the passion that speech language pathologists have for their patients and careers, there are some who feel stronger in other areas such as, greed, pride, or envy. This may cause a great therapist or employer to react unethically in a tough situation. In turn, the authoritative figure pushes their employees to commit illegal actions. Once a company, or a supervisor within a company begins to pursue unethical actions, she is then teaching every person under her supervision to also pursue these situations unethically. The people who jump into their careers as SLP-Assistants are excited and willing to get out there and put their degree to use. Employers know this and take advantage of these types of people
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Not all supervisors are unethical but if the student runs into one who is unethical then having the intel over her rights would make a profound difference. “Effective preparation must equip graduates with the skills to resolve the current ethical dilemmas that confront the profession and the new ethical dilemmas that will emerge during their professional careers.”(Kenny, Lincoln, & Belandin, 2007). Not only for her future, but in services for existing and/or potential patients. Then, once the student is well informed on the appropriate codes she can start Applying an ethics course in the undergrad program would be a great way to educate students on the significance of ethics in this field, I am unaware of the university politics and what goes into forming an entire new class, but, if possible, an ethics course prior to graduation could help raise the amount of importance of what is right, and what to do when something isn’t right. Teaching students how to file complaints or how to remove themselves from an unethical situation before their license is at risk is key. ASHA offers a variety of opportunities for members to learn more over ethics. Students who are required to participate will gain a better understanding of the role of ethics in our field. Staff may not be able to require every student to become an ASHA member for academic reasons but maybe those who do go through the trouble of joining can receive some sort of incentive. With these additions to the curriculum, students may gain more confidence going into this career , and possibly even put stop to those who take advantage of our patients. “As employees we can use every opportunity available in our workplace to inform and educate co-workers, administrators, and union leaders about professional ethics,” (Huffman, 2003). It truly takes a village but it has to start from the root in order to
It is important as a professional health care provider to have guidelines, regulations, and ethical standards to obey when providing care to the public. The ACA is to improve the quality of professional counselors in the community with education, knowledge, and guidelines by providing an ACA Code of Ethics standard when delivering treatment toward a clientele (American Counseling Association, 2015). One particular part of the ACA mission that is essential, is the ACA Code of Ethics. The purpose of the ACA Code of Ethics is a guide to ensure counselors in training and professional counselors understand the ethical obligations toward clients, possible grievances for conduct unbecoming, and professional responsibilities, which supports the ACA
Sim, J (1997). Ethical Decision Making in Therapy Practice. Oxford: Reed Educational and Professional Publishing Ltd. p.16.
Especially, in small communities where it is more common for psychologists to interact with clients and/or patients on a regular basis, such as social events, personal engagements, restaurants, grocery stores, shopping centers, and/or church outside of the workplace (Knapp, Handelsman, Gottlieb, & VandeCreek,, 2013; Pipes, Holstein, & Aguirre, 2005; & Schank, Helbok, Haldeman, & Gallardo, 2010), where the line between professional conduct, personal values, biases, and beliefs blur. It is at these times the aspirational principles of the APA, such as beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibility, integrity, justice, and respect for people 's rights and dignity can provide guidance and remind psychologists of the necessity of upholding professional codes of conduct regardless of situation (APA, 2010; Fisher, 2013). Discriminatory remarks and prejudicial views on an individual 's gender, sexual orientation, language barrier, or political views can harm current clients and patients as well as prevent potential clients and patients for seeking services and/or treatment from psychologists in the future harming the profession. Additionally, as psychologists the need to understand an individual 's multicultural identities as an essential part in providing services and treatment and failure to recognize and understand these similarities and
...constitute unethical behavior, it is unclear to what extent counselors know and agree that such behavior is unethical. This behavior could lead to ACA (1995) and AMHCA (2000) ethical reprimands and to loss of license via actions of state licensing boards. Counselors may need more explicit standards to direct their behavior regarding this issue (Braun, Cox, 2006).
In the mental health profession of counseling, therapy, psychology, psychiatric and social services ethical dilemmas are faced primarily on a daily basis. Being that mental health professionals are working with clients who are often fragile and vulnerable, they must develop an intense awareness of ethical issues. On the other hand, mental health professionals would never intentionally harm their clients, students or colleagues and others whom they work with. Unfortunately, good intentions are not enough to ensure that wrong doings will not occur and mental health professionals have no choice but to make ethically determined decisions. Depending upon the experience and expertise of the professional determines the outcome of the ethical circumstance. For example, if you were practicing mental health professional and had a friend who’s a licensed psychologist, who is invited to attend the wedding of a patient that she has been seeing in court-ordered therapy for a year; what advice would you give your friend?
I chose to go into nursing because I had taken a sports medicine class in high school I enjoyed, and I thought I would be guaranteed a job graduating that had something to do with medicine. I can remember being so excited to learn how about illnesses and medications, and all the difference procedures done in the hospital. At the time I thought a nurse’s job was to do what the physicians said, and I expected set guidelines that would tell me what I was and wasn’t allowed to do. I had no idea that I was entering onto a career path involving so much complexity, and that the skills I had dreamed of learning were such a small part of nursing in comparison to the emotional, decision making, and critical thinking skills that a nursing career requires. Ethics in nursing was not something that had ever crossed my mind when I chose to take this path, however now ethics is something that I think about every day I am practicing, whether in clinical or theory courses. Ethical theories often come from the idea that because we are human we have the obligation to care about other’s best interests (Kozier et al., 2010), however in nursing ethical practice is not just a personal choice but a professional responsibility.
Physician-assisted suicide refers to the physician acting indirectly in the death of the patient -- providing the means for death. The ethics of PAS is a continually debated topic. The range of arguments in support and opposition of PAS are vast. Justice, compassion, the moral irrelevance of the difference between killing and letting die, individual liberty are many arguments for PAS. The distinction between killing and letting die, sanctity of life, "do no harm" principle of medicine, and the potential for abuse are some of the arguments in favor of making PAS illegal. However, self-determination, and ultimately respect for autonomy are relied on heavily as principle arguments in the PAS issue.
Mumford would be called to a meeting after the board of directors and I had met initially to discuss the unethical practice that he been performing. Although it appeared to all that the patients that he counselled or diagnosed became healthier in their actions but the facts remain that he did not follow any ethical standards for psychologists. During the board meeting, we would discuss the competence and responsibility of the professional ethics guideline on Mumford. “It is hoped that these guidelines will be of assistance when human service professionals and educators are challenged by difficult ethical dilemmas” (Woodside and McClam, 2011, p. 276). After the board members reached a mutual agreement, the meeting with Mumford would begin. In the meeting with Mumford, the board of directors would discuss his unethical act of practicing psychology without a license. According to our textbook, “psychologists provide services, teach, and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study or professional experience” (Woodside, 2011, p. 276). Although Mumford attended college, he did not have enough credentials to hold a position as a psychologist. Concluding the meeting with Mumford and the board of directors, with lack of training and no license to
Linde, L.E., Erford, B.T., & Cheung, A. (2010). Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling. In B.T. Erford (Ed.), Orientations to the Counseling Profession: Advocacy, ethics, and essential professional foundations (pp.55-92). New Jersey: Pearson.
.... Also following a guideline pointed by Saddler (1986 -retrive from Forester-Miller, H., & Davis, T., 1996) counselors should apply the three test in their practice. The test of justice which determines if you would treat others the same in this situation, the publicity test, if you would want your behavior to be known and reported to the public, and the test of universality to ask yourself if you would administer the same action to another counselor in the same situation. With that in mind the professional has to believe that after all of this is achieved the professional is capable to perform the career with an outstanding background and knowledge on how and when to act and perform the social and personal changes that relies on the profession and always having in mind what is more beneficial to the patient in resolving and responding to their ethical conflicts.
When professionals in the health sector are compliant to the standards and ethics of practice, then accidents in the sector and any activities that undermine patient safety are bound to be addressed. In particular, whistleblowers in the sector should also be protected to improve service delivery in the health sector.
When it comes to mental health and diagnosing there is many challenges that a therapist or clinician could encounter. In any professional occupation one has to consider all of the ethical principles put in place as well as the legal laws; if one is incompliant to these ethical guidelines in a mental health field, in varying circumstances, failure to comply with these codes could involve legal issues which could even result in lose of licensure. Common ethical issues involved in the mental health field could include: misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis, legal incompetence, and health care fraud (misdiagnosis for insurance reimbursement).
Ethical issues in a counseling practice lay the foundation of a therapist in practice. Ethics are at the center of how the counseling process functions and operates in a successful manner for the clients who seek help in such a setting. In order for the counseling profession to be ethical and hold professional recognition, there are many facets that need to be examined and outlined to make sure all counselors and practitioners are functioning at the highest level and withholding their duties required by the counseling profession. The first introduction so to speak of the area of ethics also happens to be one of the first steps in counseling, which is the informed consent. The informed consent provides the basis of what happens or will be happening in a counseling setting and serves to inform the client to their rights, responsibilities, and what to expect. Most importantly, the informed consent is in place for the client’s benefit. It also is important to understand that culture and environment play a role in the treatment of a client and how theories can positively or negatively impact this treatment. Therapists need to understand how to work within the context of a theory while being able to understand the individual in their own environment. Although theories are put into place to serve as a framework, there are also alternative ways to approach counseling, one example being evidence-based practice. Such an approach is very specific, which presents a series of solutions for counseling as a whole, but also brings forth many problems. Every approach or theory introduces ethical concerns that need to be taken into consideration by the entire counseling community and how each can positively and negatively affect clients and the pr...
“Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues” (Chapter 15) is an interesting chapter in the textbook “Abnormal Psychology.” Just like the name of the chapter, it helps understand legal, ethical, and professional issues related to the practice of psychology. This is very important because by offering service a psychologist is responsible for the people that are under his or her care, that even goes for people participating for research. Psychologist have authority to practice in their area of expertise, using methods that are not harmful to their recipients and “ that preferably have a strong scientific basis” and never doing treatments that are unorthodox and will put their patients health and safety in any more jeopardy. This also gives patients
Professionalism in the workplace is "an indispensable element in the compact between the medical profession and society that is based on trust and putting the needs of patients above all other considerations" (Brennan & Monson, 2014). Employers and employees have different expectations for professionalism in the workplace. From understanding the ethical principles of nursing, as a potential licensed practical nurse (LPN), I believe that the ethical principles of nursing guide the concept of professionalism in the workplace, especially in the healthcare settings. The three ethical principles of nursing I believe are important in workplace professionalism are justice, beneficence, and fidelity. Through this term paper, the readers will be able