Question

When a clinician provides services to two or more people who have a relationship to each other, what should the clinician do?

1) Continue providing services as usual
2) Inform the individuals about the relationship and obtain their consent to continue providing services
3) Refer one or both individuals to another clinician
4) Stop providing services to both individuals

Answer 1

When a clinician is providing services to individuals with a relationship, they should inform the individuals, obtain their consent, and potentially refer them to other clinicians to uphold ethical standards and trust.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a clinician provides services to two or more people who have a relationship to each other, it's essential to navigate the situation with great care due to the ethical complexities involved. The clinician should:

1. Inform the individuals about the relationship they have with one another,
2. Obtain their informed consent to continue providing services,
3. Consider referring one or both individuals to another clinician if there is a potential conflict of interest or if confidentiality or neutrality could be compromised.

Trust is a cornerstone of any therapeutic relationship. It involves the preservation of confidentiality and respecting the rights to privacy and dignity of all parties involved. If providing simultaneous services to individuals with a relationship could hinder these ethical standards, it is imperative to take steps to resolve this and uphold the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non maleficence, and justice.