Readings: Please read chapter 15 in the Bernstein textbook before completing this assignment. In particular, the five ethical principles listed on page 490-491 and the ethical standards listed on page 491 are relevant for this discussion.

For each question, identify which ethical issue(s) appear to be occurring and describe why each issue is a potential problem. Be sure to also describe what potential problems could occur to the party who might be harmed (not to the mental health professional who is displaying ethically problematic behavior) due to the ethical violation(s) in each scenario.

1. Ramon Salazar, Ph.D., was interviewed about his celebrity clients in a popular movie magazine.  He identified his clients by name and offered additional personal and interpretive comments regarding his clients’ psychological struggles.  His response to an ethics committee was that his clients would welcome the free publicity.

2.  Emily Brown, M.S.W., was so convinced that a commonly used antidepressant medication was essential to mental well-being that she suggested to a reporter, only 15 minutes into the interview that he try it to alleviate her mild depression.  She then invited him to become her client.

3. William Boss, Ph.D., created quite an uproar with comments he made in a popular magazine.  He made several generalizations that many psychologists would not endorse and were not supported by empirical data.  These included: “Psychologists now know that women are better suited to jobs that involve structure rather then complex ones that require a tolerance for ambiguity,” and “Psychologists finally agree that it is almost impossible to break a bad habit, such as smoking, on your own.”

4. Because of declining sales linked to an economic recession, the Paragon Steel Corporation is planning to lay off several hundred workers.  The company wants to attempt a modification of its union contract and base the layoffs on employee productivity rather than seniority, as the union’s contract specifies.  They ask the corporate psychologist to prepare a detailed memorandum that cites research data to support their position.  They are not interested in contrary data and, in fact, insist that contrary data not be mentioned if it exists.  Headquarters also wants a detailed plan for assessing the productivity of its workers to fit these needs.

5.  Dr. Wagner performs lucrative contract work for pharmaceutical companies.  She helps to design studies and analyze their results in the area of antidepressant medications for child and adolescent anxiety disorders.  She signs a nondisclosure agreement with the pharmaceutical companies who employ her and, as a result, does not discuss or publish research findings indicating that medications are often ineffective for children.  She does, however, publish findings that show medications are effective.

ANSWER

Ethical Dilemmas in Psychological Practice: Case Scenarios and Analysis

Ethical considerations are paramount in the field of psychology, ensuring the well-being of clients and maintaining professional integrity. The following case scenarios highlight ethical issues and potential harm to parties involved in each situation.

 Ramon Salazar, Ph.D.: Confidentiality and Autonomy Violation Ethical Issues: Breach of confidentiality and client autonomy. Potential Harm: Celebrity clients’ trust and privacy compromised; potential harm to their personal and professional lives due to unauthorized disclosure.

 Emily Brown, M.S.W.: Dual Relationships and Informed Consent Violation Ethical Issues: Dual relationship and informed consent violation. Potential Harm: Reporter’s autonomy compromised by unsolicited therapeutic advice; reporter may feel coerced to become a client, leading to unprofessional boundaries.

William Boss, Ph.D.: Misrepresentation and Misleading Public Ethical Issues: Misrepresentation of empirical data and promoting misinformation. Potential Harm: Public misinformed about gender roles and breaking habits, impacting decision-making and reinforcing stereotypes; damage to psychology’s credibility.

Paragon Steel Corporation: Manipulation and Biased Reporting Ethical Issues: Manipulating data, biased reporting, and compromise of professional integrity. Potential Harm: Misleading information influencing corporate decisions; workers’ well-being affected by unjust layoffs based on biased criteria.

 Dr. Wagner: Conflict of Interest and Research Integrity Violation Ethical Issues: Conflict of interest, non-disclosure, and research integrity violation. Potential Harm: Research integrity compromised due to biased findings; potential harm to children and adolescents due to withheld information about medication efficacy.

Conclusion

Ethical considerations are paramount in psychological practice to ensure client welfare, uphold professional standards, and maintain public trust. Each case scenario illustrates various ethical issues, from confidentiality breaches to compromised research integrity. These ethical violations have the potential to harm clients, the public, and the field of psychology itself. Upholding ethical principles safeguards the well-being of all parties involved and maintains the credibility of the discipline.