Ethical Dilemmas

The ethical dilemma presented in this case example was that the doctor terminated his relationship with the client in order to pursue a romantic relationship. After the client-patient affiliation had been officially terminated, the doctor then invited the client to his home for dinner and a movie. It was at this time that the doctor sexually assaulted his former client. When the doctor was later confronted by the client’s priest with whom she had confided in about the nature of this incident, the doctor proceeded to bribe the priest with an expensive gift in order to persuade him to convince the client not to tell the authorities else about the sexual assault (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2016). Aside from just being a criminal defense from a directly
For instance, the doctor obviously violated the principle of beneficence and nonmaleficence by not respecting his client’s personal boundaries and perpetrating aggressive sexual behavior that led to harm and injury to the client – both from a physical and clinical perspective. The doctor further dishonored the principles of fidelity and responsibility in clinical practice by not taking accountability for his actions or behavior, which was clearly evident in his attempt to bribe the priest, as well as violated the trust he had built with his client prior to the assault. The principles of both integrity and justice were further dismissed in this case since the doctor not only misrepresented his personal intentions to the client, which he knew was vulnerable, but also in denying access to the psychological care that the client needed after he abruptly terminated the client-therapist relationship as well (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel,
Standard 3.02, for instance, outlines the obligations of practitioners to avoid situations that could be posed as sexual harassment, such as making advances through either verbal or physical methods, exhibiting unwelcome or offensive advances that are sexual in nature, and the solicitation intimate or sexual relationships (APA, 2010). Standard 3.08, on the other hand, prohibits exploitative relationships with any affiliates (including both current and former clients, while Standard 10.05 prohibits sexual with relationships with current clients and Standard 10.08 recommends to completely avoid intimate relationships with past clients for two years or more following the termination of the client-therapist relationship (APA, 2010). Finally, the doctor in this case example violated Standard 10.10 for the termination of therapy since the client likely still in need of therapeutic services for her depression and alcohol dependence; the doctor in this case example neither counseled the client prior to termination of services nor did he recommend any options for continuing services elsewhere or with another therapist (APA,