Technology Ethics - Eppp Knowledge

1. Which option best describes ethical requirements for telepsychology with minors and caregivers present?

   Clarify consent/assent, confidentiality limits, and who may be present each session. Clarifications ensure legal protections, informed participation, and confidentiality in family contexts.

2. Identify the best action if you suspect a telehealth platform has had a data breach affecting clients.

   Mitigate harm, follow legal/contractual notice duties, and document actions taken. These steps fulfill duties to protect clients, comply with laws, and maintain transparency.

3. What must informed consent for telepsychology explicitly include beyond standard consent?

   Technology risks, privacy limits, emergency plan, and alternatives to telehealth. These elements address unique telehealth challenges to enable fully informed client decisions and mitigate risks.

4. Which option best describes ethically appropriate handling of electronic communications in records?

   Retain clinically relevant messages per record laws; store securely and consistently. Secure retention integrates communications into records for comprehensive, compliant documentation.

5. What is the correct ethical rule about recording telepsychology sessions?

   Record only with explicit informed consent and secure storage/access controls. Consent and controls respect autonomy and prevent unauthorized access or misuse of recordings.

6. What must an emergency plan for telepsychology typically specify?

   Local emergency contacts, client address, backup contact, and crisis procedures. Such details enable prompt, coordinated responses to crises in remote therapeutic settings.

7. What is the ethical standard for selecting a telehealth platform regarding privacy and security?

   Use a secure platform with reasonable safeguards and documented risk assessment. Selection criteria minimize confidentiality breaches and demonstrate due diligence in risk management.

8. Identify the best action when a client's risk level exceeds what can be safely managed via telehealth.

   Escalate to higher level of care or in-person services; implement emergency plan. Escalation ensures safe management of high-risk cases beyond telehealth's limitations.

9. Identify the best first step when you are unsure about telehealth legality in a jurisdiction.

   Consult that jurisdiction's statutes/regulations or the licensing board guidance. Official sources provide accurate, up-to-date information on legal permissibility and practice guidelines.

10. What is the ethical approach to using personal devices for telepsychology and client data?

    Use security controls (encryption, passwords) and prevent unauthorized access. Controls minimize breach risks, ensuring ethical handling of sensitive client information.

11. What is the minimum identity and location verification practice at each telepsychology session?

    Confirm client identity and physical location at the start of each session. Verification ensures service to the intended client and facilitates jurisdiction-appropriate emergency responses.

12. What is the ethical requirement for confidentiality when a client is in a nonprivate location during telehealth?

    Address risks and require reasonable privacy or reschedule to protect confidentiality. Privacy measures during sessions fulfill ethical obligations to safeguard client information.

13. Which option best describes competence in telepsychology under ethics standards?

    Clinical competence plus competence with the technology and its risks. Ethical standards demand expertise in both clinical methods and technology to prevent harm and ensure effective care.

14. What is the ethical requirement when using digital assessment tools or apps in treatment?

    Ensure validity/appropriateness, explain limits, and protect resulting data. These steps uphold assessment integrity, client understanding, and data security in digital tools.

15. What is the ethically safest policy on searching for client information online without consent?

    Avoid unless clinically justified; obtain consent when feasible; document rationale. This balances clinical needs with respect for client privacy and informed consent principles.

16. What is the ethical requirement for advertising telepsychology services online?

    Accurate, nondeceptive claims; clarify jurisdiction, fees, and service limitations. Transparency in claims prevents deception and informs potential clients of key service details.

17. Which option best describes ethically appropriate documentation for telepsychology sessions?

    Document modality, location verification, consent, tech problems, and clinical content. Comprehensive records maintain accountability, continuity, and compliance in telepsychology practice.

18. What is the ethical rule regarding social media "friend" requests from current therapy clients?

    Do not accept; maintain boundaries and discuss the request clinically if needed. Declining preserves therapeutic boundaries and avoids potential dual relationship conflicts.

19. What is the most appropriate action if a client refuses to provide their physical location for telehealth?

    Do not proceed; arrange an alternative that allows safe emergency response. Location is essential for crisis management, and proceeding without it risks violating nonmaleficence.

20. Identify the ethical boundary practice for texting or messaging with clients between sessions.

    Set written limits for content, response times, and emergencies; document as needed. Written guidelines prevent misunderstandings and uphold professional standards in asynchronous interactions.

21. What is the ethical requirement regarding jurisdiction when a client is located in another state?

    Comply with the laws and licensure rules where the client is located. Regulations are typically based on client location to protect local standards and licensure requirements.

22. What is the ethical standard for providing services during a telehealth technology failure mid-session?

    Use the prearranged backup method and assess safety; document the disruption. Backups maintain care continuity and safety during unforeseen technological interruptions.

23. What is the primary ethical obligation when providing telepsychology across any platform?

    Protect client welfare and rights (beneficence, nonmaleficence, fidelity). This stems from core ethical principles ensuring client safety, trust, and well-being in digital therapeutic environments.

24. What is the ethically appropriate response to a client requesting therapy via an unencrypted email thread?

    Decline or switch to a secure method; obtain informed consent for any residual risk. Unencrypted methods risk breaches, so secure alternatives with consent protect confidentiality.

25. Which option best describes ethical practice for using cloud storage for client records?

    Use secure, access-controlled storage; ensure compliance with applicable laws. Security and compliance protect data integrity while adhering to privacy laws like HIPAA.

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