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Ethical Decision Making Model Paper

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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 …show more content…

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

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