Code of ethics between patient and psychologist?

Question

If during a therapy session, a patient mentions certain behaviours (that sound to the therapist like acts of rape or molestation etc), what is the therapists' (psychologist or psychiatrist) ethical position? Are they of confidentiality to the patient, or are they obligated to inform the authorities.?

Answer 1

It really depends on the psychologist and where they practice. A good psychologist should have discussed the limits of confidentiality with you before you started treatment.
The APA has an ethics code http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html but it doesn't give you the specifics on rape/molestation. That varies from state to state. In my area, we are not obligated to report rape. That is the client's decision. In some states, molestation may be required to report, but only if you have enough information. It can only be reported if the psychologist can identify the victim, perpetrator, and sometimes specifics about the what, where and when.
Unfortunately, when I did intakes with clients, I had to open my meetings with, "By law, I am required to report any sexual, child or elder abuse, even if you are now an adult and the sexual abuse occurred when you were a child." Basically, in not so many words, I said, "If you don't want it reported, don't tell me."

Answer 2

Acts like molestation are rape which is an offence can be deemed ethically correcty by the psychiatrist to report if those acts have not been reported by the patient's parents or dear ones either due to their ignorance about the act or for some other reasons. Patient's informations are confidential and cannot be released or shared unless the patient gives the consent to do so. But the underlying fact that due to such offences the patient ends up in the couch suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder so it becomes the moral responsibility of the provider to see that the offender is punished. Preventing a crime is the ethical responsibility of any citizen irrespective of their profession and reporting it instead of hiding it is a criminal offence as well.

Answer 3

complete confidality of all discussed during the sessions. weather a victim or attacker-
Legal standings can not prosecute on basis of violation of the patient privacy-

they are professionally/ethically there to help treat the patient not the issues the patient has created or avoiding- but to treat the patient....


Now any MORAL person would inform the police to investigate further but that is all- It can not come directly from the Professional- or they could have their credentials revoked for violation of patient confidentiality agreement.

Answer 4

What role in the assault did the patient have?

Answer 5

Some would say it is an unethical profession. What is your point?