In Vignette Case Study Ethical Issues

Case AnalysisAngela RosadoProfessional & Ethical Issues in Forensic PsychOctober 15, 2014Mary McGreevyCase Analysis “In Vignette 3, an inmate is incarcerated due to a history of violent behavior(s). While in prison the inmate was known as being a “model prisoner”. Now that the inmate is scheduled for a parole hearing, the warden believes the inmate possesses the propensity to commit a violent crime if released, and “requests that a psychologists/psychiatrist evaluate the inmate using psychological tests”. The warden has requested that the evaluator commit a known Ethical and Statutory violations, so that he may keep the inmate in prison and that the inmate’s parole request be denied” The request by the warden is reasonable, but cannot ethically be carried out, without providing informed consent to the inmate. (AACP, 1980; American Medical Association, 1979; American Psychiatric Association, 1989; Duber, 1986). “These standards define the “emergency” as limited to life-threatening circumstances where there is a risk of escape or “the creation of internal disorder or riot” (American Psychiatric Association, 1989)”. If the mental health professional is bound by the request of the warden, then he or she should refuse the request on both ethical and legal grounds. Weinberger &
“Idiosyncratic interpretations by individual clinicians as to what constitutes an exception to confidentiality and informed consent essentially undermine the validity of the written standards and ethics”. It does not matter whether the psychologist is a member of the APA. All fifty states have in place, rules and guidelines, which require Ethical conduct from licensed psychologists. “The standards provided guidelines for professional conduct sensitive to the needs of both mental health and corrections (Levinson, 1985; Travin,