This book provides a wealth of information about the ethical and legal issues faced by mental health professionals in the United States. In addition to numerous federal statutory and case law citations, the book provides multiple references to ethical codes from national mental health organizations, such as the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Counseling Association, and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Mental health professionals will find information regarding their duty of confidentiality (and important exceptions to that duty), court-ordered disclosures of information, how to prevent malpractice claims, testifying in court, conducting forensic evaluations, and the legal ramifications of various business entity forms and business practices.
The author has devoted an entire chapter to questions that commonly arise from practitioners, in an easy-to-read, question-and-answer format, and there is a Forms section that includes sample disclosure forms, motions, and HIPAA-related forms.
Chapter 1: Confidentiality and Privilege
Chapter 2: Exceptions to Confidentiality
Chapter 3: Risk Prevention: Practical Tips to Avoid Malpractice
Chapter 4: Court Testimony
Chapter 5: Forensic Evaluations
Chapter 6: Frequently Asked Ethics Questions
Chapter 7: Business Practices
Forms
Index
Since graduating from a master’s program at the University of Oklahoma in 1973 and then attending law school, Denis Lane has acquired decades of experience in the field of mental health law, representing St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., in landmark litigation concerning patients’ rights; handling mental health commitments in the District of Columbia and in Colorado; and representing mental health professionals and physicians in defense of malpractice actions. The author has gained experience derived from working as a teacher in a residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed juvenile delinquents in the Ohio youth corrections system; obtaining court orders for electroconvulsive therapy and for administration of medications; and providing advice and guidance to professionals on the handling of suicide threats by clients, ethical issues, and routine business practices.
While representing the District of Columbia in the late 1970s, the author’s legal duties included assisting victims of domestic violence in requests for restraining orders, and defending litigation filed under the Education for all Handicapped Children Act (Pub. L. No. 94-142) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
In defending malpractice actions and grievances, the author has represented public officials, school districts, mental health facilities, therapists, government agencies, state correctional systems, university counseling centers, psychiatrists, clinical supervisors, and professionals in all of the mental health disciplines.
During the past 10 years, Mr. Lane has conducted hundreds of training sessions and workshops focusing on compliance with legal and ethical standards for mental health professionals. In addition to consulting with therapists and agencies, he has been a guest lecturer at graduate programs for psychologists and counselors throughout the state of Colorado. He has published articles and provided seminars for mental health professional associations. Mr. Lane became co-author of The Legal Guide for Practicing Psychotherapy in Colorado, authored by Louie Larimer, J.D. That book has been an excellent resource for mental health professionals in the state of Colorado, and since 2003 has been published by Bradford Publishing Co. in Denver, Colorado. Louie Larimer’s Legal Guide was the inspiration for this book. Like the Legal Guide, this book is intended as a resource for mental health professionals and a text for Law and Ethics classes in graduate programs.
Format: 7x10" Softcover
Copyright: 2006
Pages: 165
ISBN: 1-932779-36-1
Publisher: Bradford Publishing Co.
