Welcome Back!!!Welcome Back!!!

Thus far….Thus far….

Throughout this unit, you have Throughout this unit, you have learned to apply the theories of learned to apply the theories of behavioral modification to behavioral modification to hypothetical scenarios with clients. hypothetical scenarios with clients.

The goal of the ABA professional is The goal of the ABA professional is to maximize and enhance the client's to maximize and enhance the client's functioning; however, sometimes functioning; however, sometimes issues surface regarding ethical issues surface regarding ethical practice.practice.

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

How would you define acting How would you define acting ethically?ethically?

Unit 9Unit 9 Ethical practice is most simply defined as Ethical practice is most simply defined as

doing what is right. doing what is right. However, sometimes this is not always However, sometimes this is not always

easy to determine. easy to determine. For example, an aversive practice might For example, an aversive practice might

be documented as a highly effective be documented as a highly effective intervention, but ethically, the ABA intervention, but ethically, the ABA professional must look at the benefits and professional must look at the benefits and risks of such a practice and determine risks of such a practice and determine whether it is an appropriate and ethical whether it is an appropriate and ethical option for the client.option for the client.

Unit 9Unit 9

In this unit, we will look at some In this unit, we will look at some examples of potential ethical examples of potential ethical conflicts and how these might be conflicts and how these might be addressed appropriately. addressed appropriately.

We also will explore the basic ethical We also will explore the basic ethical standards for all practicing ABA standards for all practicing ABA professionals.professionals.

Unit 9Unit 9

Finally, we will become familiar with the Finally, we will become familiar with the major board and certification options for major board and certification options for ABA professionals. ABA professionals.

Proper credentialing and continuing Proper credentialing and continuing education is an ethical standard. education is an ethical standard.

Additionally, visiting these ABA Websites Additionally, visiting these ABA Websites will help you become more familiar with will help you become more familiar with the field, standards, certification options the field, standards, certification options and opportunities for employment.and opportunities for employment.

Final ProjectFinal Project

Please start thinking about your Please start thinking about your Final Project, which is due by the Final Project, which is due by the end of Unit 9. end of Unit 9.

Your Final Project will consist of an Your Final Project will consist of an analysis of questions related to two analysis of questions related to two separate case studies. separate case studies.

Each case will present a problem Each case will present a problem that you, the  future ABA that you, the  future ABA professional, need to assess. professional, need to assess.

Final ProjectFinal Project Each case covers the theories, concepts Each case covers the theories, concepts

and research that we will have and research that we will have discussed this term. discussed this term.

Your answers to the questions should Your answers to the questions should consist of information from the text and consist of information from the text and supplemental readings.supplemental readings.

You may also use sources from the UAH-You may also use sources from the UAH-Salmon Library or credible Internet Salmon Library or credible Internet sources, but your primary sources sources, but your primary sources should be the readings assigned for the should be the readings assigned for the course. course.

Final ProjectFinal Project

Answers to the questions should be Answers to the questions should be typed up in a Word document, typed up in a Word document, double-spaced in 12 point font. double-spaced in 12 point font.

Your answers should be 3 to 4 pages Your answers should be 3 to 4 pages for each case in order to address all for each case in order to address all required parts of the Final Project.required parts of the Final Project.

Please make sure to use proper APA Please make sure to use proper APA format to credit the sources you use format to credit the sources you use in your case study analysis.in your case study analysis.

Ethics: DefinitionEthics: Definition

1- the discipline dealing with what is good and 1- the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligationbad and with moral duty and obligation

2- 2- a:a: a set of moral principles: a theory system of a set of moral principles: a theory system of moral values <e.g., an old-fashioned work moral values <e.g., an old-fashioned work ethicethic>>b:b: the principles of conduct governing an the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group <professional individual or a group <professional ethicsethics>>c:c: a guiding philosophy a guiding philosophyd:d: a consciousness of moral importance a consciousness of moral importance

3- plural: a set of moral issues or aspects (as 3- plural: a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness) <debated the rightness) <debated the ethicsethics of human of human cloning>cloning>

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

Different professions have their own Different professions have their own code of ethics that govern practice code of ethics that govern practice in working with consumersin working with consumers

Ethics often includes topics Ethics often includes topics such as:such as:

EmpowermentEmpowerment Self-determinationSelf-determination AdvocacyAdvocacy Scope of practiceScope of practice Providing services based on ability Providing services based on ability

to payto pay confidentialityconfidentiality

Patient ConsentPatient Consent

Patients must consent to mental Patients must consent to mental health services, unless patient is a health services, unless patient is a minor, and then parent or guardian minor, and then parent or guardian must consent to treatmentmust consent to treatment

Patient must consent for information Patient must consent for information to be releasedto be released

ConfidentialityConfidentiality

What do you think this means?What do you think this means?

Confidentiality DefinedConfidentiality Defined

Refers to the consumer’s rights not Refers to the consumer’s rights not to have any information revealed to to have any information revealed to anyone about their treatment anyone about their treatment without their written permissionwithout their written permission

Limits of ConfidentialityLimits of Confidentiality

Actual or suspected child abuse (physical Actual or suspected child abuse (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect)abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect)

Actual or suspected elder or dependent Actual or suspected elder or dependent adult abuse (abandonment, isolation, adult abuse (abandonment, isolation, financial abuse, and neglect)financial abuse, and neglect)

Risk to self (suicidal)Risk to self (suicidal) Risk to others (homicidal)Risk to others (homicidal) Gravely disabled (danger to self or Gravely disabled (danger to self or

others)others)

TarasoffTarasoff

1974: Prosinjit Podder, an Indian Graduate student, 1974: Prosinjit Podder, an Indian Graduate student, studying at Berkeley, begins to date Tatiana Tarasoff. He studying at Berkeley, begins to date Tatiana Tarasoff. He feels that she is his intended. feels that she is his intended.

He gets upset when she expresses interest in other He gets upset when she expresses interest in other men. He goes to counseling at the University Health men. He goes to counseling at the University Health Service.Service.

He tells the psychologist, Dr. Moore, that he wants to He tells the psychologist, Dr. Moore, that he wants to get a gun and shoot Tarasoff. get a gun and shoot Tarasoff.

Dr. Moore sends letter to campus police, they Dr. Moore sends letter to campus police, they investigate Podder, they think he is not a danger, tell investigate Podder, they think he is not a danger, tell him to avoid Tatiana. him to avoid Tatiana.

When Tatiana returns from Brazil at the end of summer, When Tatiana returns from Brazil at the end of summer, Podder stalks, stabs her to death. Podder stalks, stabs her to death.

Tarasoff Legal Tarasoff Legal ActionAction

Parents of Tatiana sue campus police, UC Parents of Tatiana sue campus police, UC Regents, Health Service, for failure to warn Regents, Health Service, for failure to warn Tatiana about Podder’s desire to kill her. Tatiana about Podder’s desire to kill her.

At trial court, case is dismissed (not heard). At trial court, case is dismissed (not heard). California Supreme Court reverses the trial California Supreme Court reverses the trial

court’s decision, stating that the trial court must court’s decision, stating that the trial court must hear the case. Reasoning: “therapist bears a duty hear the case. Reasoning: “therapist bears a duty to use reasonable care to to use reasonable care to give threatened give threatened persons warningspersons warnings as are essential to avert as are essential to avert foreseeable danger.”foreseeable danger.”

Tarasoff IITarasoff II

California Supreme Court: “When a California Supreme Court: “When a therapist determines, or pursuant to therapist determines, or pursuant to the standards of his profession the standards of his profession should determine, that his patient should determine, that his patient presents a serious danger of presents a serious danger of violence to another, he incurs an violence to another, he incurs an obligation to use reasonable care obligation to use reasonable care to to protectprotect the intended victim against the intended victim against such danger.” such danger.”

How do you protect a How do you protect a victim, rather than just victim, rather than just

warn a victim?warn a victim? California Supreme Court: “The California Supreme Court: “The

discharge of this duty may require discharge of this duty may require the therapist to take one or more of the therapist to take one or more of various steps. This, it may call for various steps. This, it may call for him to warn the intended victim, to him to warn the intended victim, to notify the police, or to take notify the police, or to take whatever steps are reasonably whatever steps are reasonably necessary under the necessary under the circumstances.” circumstances.”

It is also important It is also important to empower your to empower your

clients. Why clients. Why might this be?might this be? How could a How could a

professional do professional do this?this?

Empowering ClientsEmpowering Clients

Enables them to recognize their Enables them to recognize their strengths and abilities strengths and abilities

Promotes independencePromotes independence Enables them to solve problems in Enables them to solve problems in

the future on their own and the future on their own and successfullysuccessfully

Some strategies for Some strategies for empowering clientsempowering clients

Challenge stereotypes/labelsChallenge stereotypes/labels Treat clients as collaboratorsTreat clients as collaborators Focus on what clients see as “the Focus on what clients see as “the

problem” and listen to their viewpointsproblem” and listen to their viewpoints Ask about exceptions to the problems Ask about exceptions to the problems

and points of light in their lifeand points of light in their life Recognize strengths and validate theseRecognize strengths and validate these

EthicsEthics

Overall, when acting ethically, one Overall, when acting ethically, one might ask themselves:might ask themselves: What is the right thing to do?What is the right thing to do? What is worth doing?What is worth doing? What does it mean to be a good What does it mean to be a good

behavior analyst?behavior analyst? End goal: Further the welfare of the End goal: Further the welfare of the

clientclient

How do you know How do you know what is the right what is the right thing to do? How thing to do? How might one’s own might one’s own values and prior values and prior

experiences experiences influence their influence their

thoughts on this?thoughts on this?

What is the right thing What is the right thing to do?to do?

Personal history influences our Personal history influences our decision makingdecision making Personal experiencesPersonal experiences Cultural/religious beliefsCultural/religious beliefs Professional training and experiencesProfessional training and experiences To ensure that personal experiences and To ensure that personal experiences and

cultural/religious beliefs don’t take over, cultural/religious beliefs don’t take over, it helps to consult research literature, it helps to consult research literature, case studies, supervisors, and colleaguescase studies, supervisors, and colleagues

How do you know How do you know what is worth what is worth

doing?doing?

What is worth doing?What is worth doing?

Social validity of the interventionSocial validity of the intervention Cost-benefit ratio: Does the potential Cost-benefit ratio: Does the potential

benefit to the individual justify the benefit to the individual justify the short- and long-term cost for short- and long-term cost for providing the service?providing the service?

Existing exigencies: Behaviors that Existing exigencies: Behaviors that are more serious warrant are more serious warrant intervention consideration before intervention consideration before behaviors that are less problematicbehaviors that are less problematic

The good behavior The good behavior analyst….analyst….

Follows the Golden RuleFollows the Golden Rule Is self-regulatingIs self-regulating Calibrates decisions over time to Calibrates decisions over time to

meeting changing cultural values meeting changing cultural values and contingenciesand contingencies

Professional standardsProfessional standards

Written guidelines or rules of Written guidelines or rules of practice that provide direction for practice that provide direction for the practices associated with an the practices associated with an organizationorganization

What are some What are some professional professional standards we standards we

discussed last week discussed last week that would be that would be

important for ABA important for ABA professionals to professionals to

have?have?

Professional StandardsProfessional Standards

See…See… APA: APA: Ethical Principles of Psychologists Ethical Principles of Psychologists

and Code of Conductand Code of Conduct ABA: ABA: The Right to Effective Behavioral The Right to Effective Behavioral

TreatmentTreatment and and The Right to Effective The Right to Effective EducationEducation

BACB: BACB: Guidelines for Responsible Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior AnalystsConduct for Behavior Analysts and and The The BCBA and BCABA Behavior Analyst Task BCBA and BCABA Behavior Analyst Task ListList

Ensuring Professional Ensuring Professional CompetenceCompetence

Academic training that includes:Academic training that includes: Formal courseworkFormal coursework Supervised practicaSupervised practica Mentored professional experienceMentored professional experience

Certification and licensureCertification and licensure Behavior Analyst Certification BoardBehavior Analyst Certification Board

Keep practice within your area of Keep practice within your area of competencecompetence

Being Ethical in What Being Ethical in What you Sayyou Say

Avoid making unsubstantiated Avoid making unsubstantiated claims (e.g., “I am certain I can help claims (e.g., “I am certain I can help your son”)your son”) Maintain a healthy dose of humilityMaintain a healthy dose of humility

Only present yourself with valid Only present yourself with valid credentials (never claim to have credentials (never claim to have certifications, licenses that you don’t certifications, licenses that you don’t have)have)

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

Of the ethical guidelines discussed, Of the ethical guidelines discussed, which ones seem particularly which ones seem particularly important? Why?important? Why?

Why is adhering to these guidelines important for treatment success and patient safety?

Great job tonight!Great job tonight!

Any ending questions or comments?Any ending questions or comments?