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Questions: Ethics

Ethics are developed by an individual, religion, society, or organization as a philosophical expression of moral values. Ethics can be applied to the observation of human conduct in an effort to judge the positive or negative effects of that conduct. Ethics are influenced by culture and may be interpreted according to the situation. Most professions adhere to a formal expression of moral values that apply to the practice of the profession. Members of the profession play a role in determining those values and use those values as guidelines in their practice. Typically, a credentialing agency for the profession takes responsibility for a formal document, often termed a Code of Ethics, that has been approved by its members. The agency responsible for certifying its members as qualified to practice a profession can require that those members adhere to the Code Ethics and may establish a review board that examines potential instances of misconduct that might lead to withdrawal the practitioner's credential.

Revisions to ASHA's Code of Ethics were submitted for peer review to the membership in Spring 2002. The changes primarily address specification of application of the Code to research and scholarly activity as well as to clinical practice. Much of the material on which the following questions and answers are based is reflective of information that can be found in detail at ASHA's website (see this section's Interesting Web Links page) and in ASHA Supplement 22 (Spring 2002).

For questions one through three, label the following statements regarding ASHA’s Code of Ethics as True or False.

1 .       A person who holds the CCC but is not an ASHA member need not adhere to the Code of Ethics.  

 
 


2 .       A person who is an ASHA member but does not hold the CCC must adhere to the Code of Ethics.  

 
 


3 .       Students in training do not need to adhere to the Code of Ethics.  

 
 


4 .       Situation: An SLP is hired to provide clinical services at ACME Long Term Care Facility in Anywhere USA. He discovers a portable audiometer in his new office and happily offers to screen the hearing acuity of the facility’s staff during the first week of his employment as a means establishing good relations. Which of the following statements apply to his decision? 



5 .       Situation: An SLP is engaged in a small private practice. During a treatment session with a client with dysphonia, she receives a telephone call that she answers since the secretary is at lunch. The caller is the parent of a child that she evaluated. The parent is calling with questions regarding the recommendations that the SLP included in the written evaluation report. Which is the best response for the SLP at this point? 



6 .       Situation: In September an SLP working in the Anywhere USA public school system is transferred to a new elementary school, where she assumes the previous clinician’s caseload. In reviewing case records, she finds six children—fifth- and sixth-graders—who are long-term residents of the school’s communication disorders caseload. In each case there is little evidence of more than minimal change in each child’s communicative status over the past one and one-half years. During a resource staff team meeting, the SLP advises the team members that she is considering dismissing these children from her caseload. That afternoon the school’s Assistant Principal visits her room to discuss this matter. He states that he wants her to wait until after the next state Department of Education services headcount before she acts further in this matter. He explains that it would have a negative effect on the school’s funding. He reminds her that continuing the caseload in its present status will not harm these children, but that premature denial of further service will harm the school programs’ funding and might obviate further progress for the children in question. Which of the following possibilities seems to be the most viable in this circumstance? 



7 .        

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