Ethical Decision Making Model Cathy Bacon Professional & Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychology Argosy University/Atlanta Dr. E. Fernandez
The Forensic specialty guidelines and the APA Ethics Code may provide a guide in choices when one is faced with ethical dilemmas. However, they do not cover every possible dilemma a mental health professional may encounter. The solution is not clear on what procedures should be followed when there are conflicts between legal requirements and ethical guidelines and when two ethical guidelines conflict with one another. When this occurs, it is helpful to have a systematic solution in deciding the appropriate course to follow
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In addition, on should be accepting of feedback in an effort to change. The ethical decision making model has both strengths and weaknesses. The strength of the model provides a guide for forensic professionals to follow in an effort to safeguard the rights and privileges of the clients as well as ensuring professionalism and preserving the psychology profession. These eight steps also keeps the knowledge and skills of the forensic professional current and helps him remain open in situations.
The weakness associated with the ethical decision making model is that the model is designed only to be a guide. In the field of psychology, nothing is an exact science. What may be the right thing to do in one situation, may not work for all. For example, a forensic professional hired by the district attorney’s office is requesting to receive hospital records of a bank robber to determine his mental state at the time of the robbery. The district attorney tells her no in fear that it may support the bank robber’s incompetency plea. She seeks the advice of a colleague that has experienced a similar situation which tells her to go to the judge and request additional time. There is no guarantee that the judge on this case will grant permission to receive the records as the previous judge did. Although the same protocol was followed, the outcome may be
In regards, to ethical dilemmas, I recognize and acknowledge them based on both the AAMFT and the AUCFTI clinic's code of ethics and my own insight. It is important to follow the clinic’s code of ethics, but if something feels off or uncomfortable, you should acknowledge those feelings within yourself and reach out for assistance. Currently, as a student, I would reach out to my supervisor or another staff member if she isn’t available. Your supervisor is always a good source to help you process any questions or concerns. It is also important should anything arise, I would want to be able to have a clear, concise conversation with my clients holding onto and maintaining my boundaries on the issue. Within this process, I would also utilize the Koocher and Keith-Spiegel model for ethical decision-making, as outlined by pages 52 through 54 in Wilcoxon (2014). Ethical decision-making by definition can be difficult, this model allows you to decide what is the correct solution in a less biased way. It additionally, prompts you to provide adequate detail to back up your decision.
Making sound ethical decisions require an intentional process that utilizes thoughtful reflection, supervision/consultation, and action. Many ethical decision making models exist and the seven-step model introduced by Forester-Miller and Davis (1996) is a succinct amalgamation of these earlier models. The model by Forester-Miller and Davis (1996) follows seven progressive steps: (a) identify the problem, (b) apply the ACA Code of Ethics (2014), (c) determine the nature and dimensions of the dilemma, (d) generate potential courses of action, (e) consider the potential consequences of all options and determine a course of action, (f) evaluate the selected course of action, and (g) implement the course of action.
In order to effectively work in this area, Forensic psychologists must know the court’s expectations.They must be credible, competent, and concise being able to explain to the court how they arrived at their
What are ethics and how do they affect decision-making? According to the Santa Clara University, "[ ] [E]thics refers to well based standards of right and wrong [ ]." Ethics are not the same as religion, but "Religion can set high ethical standards and can provide intense motivations for ethical behavior" (Santa Clara University). What about the law? There can be a law in place, but that does not necessarily mean that the law is ethical. An example could be that San Francisco makes it illegal for people to sleep in the parks at night. What about the homeless people that camped out at the parks and now has nowhere else to go? People sleep in the parks during the day, nighttime is not any different except that
2. Guides, customer records, and work force documents will keep on being requested into courts in light of the fact that the legitimate framework believes the documentation contains data expected to settle on choices about youngster care, automatic hospitalization, and a wide cluster of different circumstances, including assertions of deceptive conduct. Absence of trustworthiness and ineptitude and in addition lost, fragmented, and insufficient graphs can be hurtful to the client and the counselor.
The Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct, published by the American Psychological Association are the standard guidelines for all Psychologists. Forensic Psychologists are also informed by Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologist. Psychologists practicing forensic psychology can use these two documents to help clarify ethical questions. This paper will focus on role conflicts specifically in the area of Sex Offender Management and the ethical conflicts that may arise as a result and how to best handle this situation when faced with it. When an individual chooses to practice psychology within the legal system, they must be aware that this can at any point in their career lead to ethical conflicts. Just the possibility
If a profiler uses false information in an investigation to delay the apprehension of an offender, the misuse of criminal profiling can produce an ethical predicament. An ethical dilemma such as this speaks to the character of the individual. The Ethical Principles of Psychologist and Code of Conduct, and the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists prohibit psychologist from presenting false information as fact. They also state that psychologist should be able to provide evidence that proves their findings. Ultimately, preventive measures are in place to deter instances like this.
This paper discusses the different roles that are taken on by a forensic psychologist, and how those roles interact and affect each other and how the psychologist is about to do his/her job. It looks briefly at the history of the field. We discuss the forensic psychologist as the consultant, the therapist, the researcher, as well as the expert witness. This paper also discusses predicting dangerousness and whether or not an expert can predict dangerousness. Finally we look at conflicting roles and ethics in the field.
Using the Ethics Problem Solving Model, we can determine the best action plan in making a decision in this case by breaking it down into three categories: description, analysis, and decision. The description portion requires us to assess the stakeholders and the facts of the case. Yours is a not for profit organization that does not receive a lot of funding. Although the donor is willing to provide Yours with funding, it requires the organization to mute its stance on the local controversy their stances. The stakeholders in this case would be my organization and its ability to support its causes, the director and his or her ability to carry out duties/policies of the organization, the staff of the organization and the security of their jobs if funding is cut, and the donor who is
Allan identifies four main reasons for legal-ethical confounds in the fields of correctional and forensic psychology. The first is that because workers in these fields are working with or counseling criminals there is a possibility that the workers will become “ethically desensitized” by exposure to the clients surroundings and counseling conditions (Allan, 2013). The second reason is that legislation defines the role of psychologists in the courtroom in such vague terms and doesn’t accurately describe the full role they play; this therefore, makes it difficult to draw legal-ethical guidelines because of the lack of description. Thirdly, this lack of description means that the writings and teachings of legal-ethical guidelines are mainly based in clinical practices and are often times not adequate enough for real world application in the legal system. Lastly, because of their interactions with the legal system and its agents, correctional and forensic psychologists tend to adopt the ethical practices of the legal system for fear of losing credibility among other concerns. All of these factors combined lead to the generalized complaint that correctional and forensic psychologists feel unprepared and “unsupported” in their fields (Allan, 2013). Allan supports these claims by citing research conducted by various people and legislation. Allan’s view is logical in that it follows a rational pattern; his first and last reasons are based in assimilation and adaptation, the second and third reasons build off the principle of
If a forensic psychologist does not fulfil their promised jobs, they can not only jeopardize their careers, but their patients lives, as
useful information to the courts in a manner consistent with the American Psychological Association’s (APA; 1992) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, the Committee on Ethical Guidelines for Forensic Psychologist’s (1991) Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists, and the APA’s (1994) Guidelines
Ethical dilemma occurs in various setting which causes harm to the individual, psychologist, and to the practice. Psychologist, therapist, and others in the helping profession need to conduct themselves in a manner: (a) to uphold integrity and honest of the profession; (b) protect the welfare of the client; and (c) making sound decisions which justify ones actions base upon the profession. Forensic psychologist based their ethical decision upon the principles based upon ones actions. There are many ethical decision-making models to assist with justifying their action: (a) one step model – yes or no; (b) two-step model reflect moral judgment; (c) three-step model – examines one’s emotions, thought process, and action in relation to the ethical dilemma; (d) four-step model – is employed when addressing ethical dilemma addressed by co-workers. This paper will use the eight-step model to assess the ethical dilemma of the psychologist in the assigned case study.
Furthermore, as Wiley's Handbook of Psychology states, forensic psychologists must take into account a few salient
Ford and Richardson (1994) the model of ethical decision-making is generally detached by individual factors and situational factors, which in situational factors is the most important.