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Is there a Duty to Warn When Working with HIV-Positive Clients?

Stephanie Chervenak Asks:
I am curious about ethical considerations when treating individuals who are HIV positive. What are my responsibilities as a clinician if I know that my client (HIV positive) is engaging in risky/unsafe sexual practices with someone? In this case, the other person’s life is endangered.
This issue always stumps me, thank you for your [...]

Ask the Ethicist: Couples Therapy in an Abusive Relationship

Question by Faith Prelli.
I have a client (18yr female) who I have seen twice a week for 8 months who is currently in a relationship plagued with intimate partner violence. This has been dubbed “mutual combat” by several of my co-workers, but in exploration with her, it appears as though the severity of his violence, [...]

Ask the Ethicist: The Ethics of Making or Not Making Medication Referrals.

Question By Jennifer Weinstein.
Currently, there is a push for people to be on medication, and clients often come in stating that they want medication. This is especially true in multidisciplinary environments where psychiatrists and APRNs work alongside psychotherapists. However, some people do not have this mindset. For therapists [...]

Ask the Ethicist: A Request For An Anonymous Consultation

Question by Dr. Overtree
I have a client referral who is requesting, via an anonymous email message, to be screened by me as a possible patient anonymously. Although he states he is not suicidal or homicidal, nor does he meet any of the criteria for possible involuntary hospitalization (by his own report), he remains extremely concerned [...]