Legal and Ethical Issues for Addiction Professionals

Coauthored by a federal administrative law judge and by a professor in the ethics and counseling fields, this concise guide is tailored to the professionals whose jobs depend on knowing laws and ethical standards as they pertain to addiction counseling. Presented in a direct, thorough question and answer format, ""Legal and Ethical Issues"" uncovers the complexities of client confidentiality, describes the nuances of informed consent, and lays out classical legal cases that define a counselors role in commonly encountered scenarios: what to do when a clinician has identified a patient who is likely to harm someone; the importance of not releasing a dangerous client from treatment; and, when the duty to warn extends not only to a potential victim but also to others who are close to the victim. The authors emphasize how ethical decision-making depends on the counelor's multicultural competency, as well as his or her integrity regarding boundary protocols in the professional-client relationship. This guide helps sustain professional efforts to provide the best outcomes for a patient. It is part of the ""Hazelden Essentials for Professionals"".