Part 3: Professional Ethical Decision Model Presentation

Multicultural Model Steps

Introduction

• Identify and define an ethical dilemma
• Explore the context of power
• Assess acculturation and racial identity development
• Seek consultation
• Generate alternative solutions
• Select a course of action
• Evaluate the decision

The Dilemma

The case study

A psychologist receives a phone message from a former patient. The former patient is asking for the psychologist to be a “character witness” as he has an upcoming hearing for a minor criminal offense. His attorney believes that some good, written character references will really help out with the case.

The psychologist pulls the former patient’s chart. The psychologist has not worked with the patient for about two years. Additionally, none of the treatment issues had to do with impulse control or antisocial tendencies. Therapy lasted about a year and focused on depression and relationship issues. The psychologist recalls that the patient had always been good-natured, attended appointments regularly, and worked well in therapy. The psychologist remembers the former patient as a likeable person.

Identifying the Dilemma

• Uknowns of legal process

• Treatment Timeline:
• patient for less than 12 months
• 2 years since last treatment

• Treatmeant relevance to case?

Identify & define dilemma

Acknowledging the Context of Power

Explore the context of power

• No Cultural Info

• Possible client interpretations
• class
• race
• social status
• criminal history
• Judgement or pity based on criminal history

Acculturation

Professional Ethics

People Passion

"I'm here to support. Let me help you any way I can."

Unconditional Agreement

THE GOAL!!!

Balances all concerns

Patient wants support

I want treatment relevancy

Likely takes TIME

Acculturation

Personal

E

t

h

i

c

s

Whats good for me?

"Patient load isn't too full...as long as I get paid, who cares?"

"Hes no longer my client annd I dont need the trouble. "

No Benefecence

All about the rules

Ask Judge to decide relevancy?

Most likely refusal

Seeking Consults

Professional colleagues or Mentors regarding client request:

therapy vs hearing timeline

legal unknowns

Seek consultation

So I have this former client...

Alternative Solutions

(a) Refusing to participate | No Discussions

(b) Accept the request unconditionally

(c) Review therapy notes with client and/or attorney then decide relevancy

(d) Restart treatment | Psychometric Tests (Anti-Social Behavior Scale; Barratt Impulsivity Scale.

Alternative

Solutions

Selected Course of action

Course of Action

Honest/ Upfront about concerns

Conditional rejection

Review treatment notes

Prove legitimacy

Case relvant diagnostics & Continued therapy

Evaluating the action

Fidelity: Being upfront about all concerns

Client welfare: Reviewing therapy notes and having the client/attorney prove relevance (autonomy)

Professional values take priority

Consider more current character witness or restart therapy + recent diagnostics

Evaluate the Decision

References

American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct.

https://www.apa.org. http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/

Frame, M. W., & Williams, C. B. (2005). A model of ethical decision making from a multicultural

perspective. Counseling and Values, 49(3), https://dtaa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Model-of-Ethical-Decision-Making-from-Multicultural-Perspective.pdf

Mezquita, L., et. al, (2021). Preliminary validity and reliability evidence of the Brief Antisocial Behavior

Scale (B-ABS) in young adults from four countries. PLOS ONE, 16(2), e0247528. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247528

Pirius, R. (2022, June 14). Criminal Law: Delaying or Getting a Continuance in a Criminal Case.

Lawyers.com. https://www.lawyers.com/legal-info/criminal/criminal-law-basics/delaying-or-getting-a-continuance-in-a-criminal-case.html#:~:text=Judges%20may%20grant%20continuances%20in,trial%20under%20the%20Sixth%20Amendment

Stanford, M. S., Mathias, C. W., Dougherty, D. M., Lake, S. L., Anderson, N., & Patton, J. H. (2009). Fifty

years of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale: An update and review. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(5), 385–395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.04.008