Digital Ethics: Keeping Abreast of Clinical and Ethical Considerations
Fulfills: Professional Ethics for all professions
The continual evolution of use of the Internet and related digital technologies adds a level of complexities and ethical considerations for clinicians. Even those who do not engage in telemental health must adhere to ethical guidelines governing social media, online reviews, texting, and other forms of online communications.
In this advanced beginner/intermediate level course, ethics expert, Dr. Ofer Zur, sheds light on current regulations and guidelines clinicians need to adhere to in order to practice within ethical standards. This interview is broken into three sections and is available in video, audio or text format.
In the first section, Dr. Zur defines reviews fundamental principles of ethics including the standard of care and codes of ethics. In the second section Dr, Zur discusses the disinhibition effect and other aspects of digital interaction and reviews the ethics of conducting Google searches, engaging in social media, and responding to online reviews. The third section includes a discussion of standards of telemental health and conducting telehealth across state lines. The final section contains updates to telemental health laws and regulations.
As an added bonus, a sample telehealth consent form is included.
Educational Objectives
- Describe how the standard of care influences ethical decision making
- Identify how to respond to online reviews
- Prepare for online therapy in a manner that includes recommendations to assure adherence to current standards of care.
- Plan for adhering to ethical guidelines when conducting therapy across state lines
Syllabus
- Standard of Care
- Definition
- Factors that influence the standard of care
- Applications in telemental health
- Steps Involved in Ethical Decision Making
- Digital Ethics
- Texting
- Disinhibition Effect
- The Yelp Trap and responding to reviews
- Google
- Standards and ethical considerations
- Informed consent
- Online/Digital Dual Relationships
- Codes of ethics
- Considerations As a Result of Changes Triggered by COVID-19 Pandemic
- Increases in mental health/social concerns
- Impact on teletherapy
- Increased ease of practicing across state lines
- Changes in insurance regulations
- Impact on Therapists as a Result of the Shift to Teletherapy
- Loss of collegial relationships
- Isolation
- New ethical concerns
- Emerging Trends: Telemental Health Apps and Artificial Intelligence
- Ethical and privacy concerns
- Responding to clients’ interest in new technologies
- Ethical guidelines for practicing telehealth
- Separate informed consent
- Separate liability insurance policy