Description
216: Mandated Reporting and Permissive Reporting: Ethical and Legal Responsibility to Non-clients
Yulanda Tyre, Ph.D.
Liberty University
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
David Brown, Ph.D.
Liberty University
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Deborah Braboy, Ph.D.
Liberty University
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Summary
With the need to protect vulnerable populations, all states have mandatory reporting laws for clinicians regarding client disclosures of abuse of children, the elderly, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Currently, reporting laws and procedures are clear only when the clinician is working with the client and has direct, firsthand knowledge and information about the situation. However, sometimes circumstances will arise when the clinician does not have sufficient information to report the incident (e.g., direct knowledge and identifiable information) but is aware that abuse is occurring. Thus, the question arises—what are the clinician’s legal and ethical responsibilities as a mandatory reporter when he or she is aware of an abusive condition but has no direct knowledge of the situation or identifiable information? This session will explore ethical and legal codes, examine and apply ethical decision-making, and review real-life case scenarios where participants can discuss and select a potential course of action.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
• Identify the challenges and limitations of reporting laws regarding abuse and neglect of minors, including the difference between mandatory and permissive requirements for psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, or addiction counselors
• Analyze various rationales for and against reporting a child abuse/neglect situation for which no direct information is known
• Utilize an ethical decision-making process to determine a clinician’s responsibility to report a situation of which they have no direct knowledge or identifiable information
