Question
Case example: A case of ethics - Thablso, John and Client Raphael Thabiso is an intern psychologist in the area of industrial and organisational (10) psychology. He i working under the close supervision of John, who is a registered 10 psychologist. John and Thabio have to see Client Raphael for career counselling and guidance. John has a debriefing meeting with Thabiso to share information about Client Raphael before the scheduled session with the cliem.
During the debriefing meeting, John gives Thabiso a breakdown of the proposed structure of the
sessions:
Session 1: Interview with Client Raphael using the postmodern approach
Session 2: Career assessments
Session 3; Feedback session
Session 4: Drafting Client Raphael's personal development plan and future planning
Thabiso agrees to be present at the sessions, as he needs to get exposure to career counselling and
guidance.
On the day of Session 1, Client Raphael arrives as planned, and is surprised to find John and another person (Thabiso) in the meeting room. Client Raphael asks who the third person is and what the purpose of his presence is. John casually tells Client Raphael that the third person is an intern under his supervision and that he will be joining the sessions as an observer. Jonn then asks Client Raphael to be seateilo that they can start with the session.
John proceeds wad the interview as planned. To ensure that he captures all the information shared by Client Raphael, John has a recording device and asks Thabiso to make notes as well. Client kapnael is very uncomfortable with this and asks what will be done with the recording and the notes. John responds as follows: Don't worry, Client Raphael. just want to make sure that my intern captures the crux of our discussion. I will check his notes against the recording. John proceeds and concludes the session. In wrapping up the session, John reminds Client Raphael that the next session will comprise assessments. When Client Raphael leaves, John tells Thabiso to keep both the recording device and
the notes for the time being.After 10 working days, Client Raphael arrives earlier than expected for the assessments. He sits in the waiting room at John's practice. Imthe waiting area, Client Raphael sees the receptionist pulling out all the client files for the day. Client Raphael's file is on top, followed by a few more files. The client names and other identifying details are visible on the cover of the files.
Thabiso goes out to meet Client Raphael and invites him into the room where the assessments will be conducted. Client Raphael is surprised to find that the session will be facilitated by Thabiso and that John is unavailable for a few hours. Client Raphael is handed the assessments with no instructions given. At the end of the session, Client Raphael hands over his answer sheets and asks Thabiso when he will get feedback on the interview and the assessments. Thabiso tells Client Raphael that he doesn't know, but he assures Client Raphael that he will make enquiries with John as soon as he is available.
After three weeks (15 working days), Client Raphael contacts John's office to make further enquiries about the feedback from the activities completed in the last two sessions. John tells Client Raphael that he will have the reports ready within a week. The following week John emails the long-awaited report to Client Raphael. Unfortunately, the details of the client on the cover of the report are not Client Raphael's details. Client Raphael informs John of this issue and asks for clarity. John casually informs the client that it was a mistake on the part of the intern. He says: Don't worry about the name on the cover page. Just focus on the contents of the report’.
Client Raphael is upset by the service he has received and comes to you for advice.
discussion of case study.
discussion 1:
John is supervising an intern, Thabiso. This is encouraged by the HPCSA. In situations where Thabiso requires professional training by working with John, it is important that John contracts with his clients on this arrangement. Contracting entails proposing and discussing terms of engagement, for example, roles, boundaries and expectations. This makes it easier for the client to make an informed decision to take up your services or to go elsewhere. In this case, John should have contracted with Client Raphael regarding Thabiso's involvement in the career counselling and guidance process John's lack of contracting with the client led to Client Raphael having to ask who Thabiso was and the
purpose of his presence.
John seems to show disrespect for Client Raphael's right to human worth and dignity in that he casually tells Client Raphael that the third person is an intern under his supervision who will be joining the sessions as an observer. John further asks Client Raphael to be seated so that they can start with the session. John failed to rectify the situation and seek permission from Client Raphael Unformed consent) for Thabiso to be present during the sessions. It would seem that John has a condescending
attitude towards the client. John asks Thabiso to take notes and uses a recording device without obtaining informed consent from Client Raphael. This also infringes or Client Raphael's right to confidentiality and privacy. The client is not comfortable with the third person in the session and the data collection techniques. John has not informed Client Raphael who will have access to the information and how it will be stored and used. Another ethical concern is around the safe-keeping of records. John tells Thabiso to keep both the recording device and the notes for the time being. It is John's responsibility to safeguard records and information about the client as part of promoting the client's right to privacy and confidentiality.
This ethical concern is further highlighted by the fact that clients fles have identifying information on the covers and there is minimal care taken in the handling of client files. In the case study it is mentioned that while Client Raphael was in the waiting room he saw the receptionist pull out all the client files for the day, and he saw the client names and other identifying details visible on the covers of the files. Another example from the case study is when Client Raphael received his report only to find that the details of the client on the cover of the report were those of somebody else and not his own.
Care must be taken first, in the handling and labelling of client files to uphold the clients' right to confidentiality and privacy, and, secondly, in the correctness of information disseminated to ensure the integrity of the report, service and profession. •
When delegating work to Thabiso, John should have taken all steps to ensure that Thabiso would execute the tasks in the most competent manner and within specified guidelines. The case study states that Client Raphael was handed the assessments and not given any instructions (there is a lack of accountability and quality of service) and neither was informed consent obtained from Client Raphael to participate in the assessments. John was not available to conduct the assessments although he scheduled the appointment with the client. This also shows the poor quality of service rendered by John and his disregard for Client Raphael's right to human dignity.
QUESTIONS
3. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION IN CAREER COUNSELLING 4 marks
Objective: To foster the application of ethical considerations in the career counselling process.
Instructions: Read through the case study on pages 190-191 of your textbook.
3.1 Highlight the ethical concerns in the case study. (3)
3.2 Which professional body should Client Raphael lodge his complaint with? (1)
During the debriefing meeting, John gives Thabiso a breakdown of the proposed structure of the
sessions:
Session 1: Interview with Client Raphael using the postmodern approach
Session 2: Career assessments
Session 3; Feedback session
Session 4: Drafting Client Raphael's personal development plan and future planning
Thabiso agrees to be present at the sessions, as he needs to get exposure to career counselling and
guidance.
On the day of Session 1, Client Raphael arrives as planned, and is surprised to find John and another person (Thabiso) in the meeting room. Client Raphael asks who the third person is and what the purpose of his presence is. John casually tells Client Raphael that the third person is an intern under his supervision and that he will be joining the sessions as an observer. Jonn then asks Client Raphael to be seateilo that they can start with the session.
John proceeds wad the interview as planned. To ensure that he captures all the information shared by Client Raphael, John has a recording device and asks Thabiso to make notes as well. Client kapnael is very uncomfortable with this and asks what will be done with the recording and the notes. John responds as follows: Don't worry, Client Raphael. just want to make sure that my intern captures the crux of our discussion. I will check his notes against the recording. John proceeds and concludes the session. In wrapping up the session, John reminds Client Raphael that the next session will comprise assessments. When Client Raphael leaves, John tells Thabiso to keep both the recording device and
the notes for the time being.After 10 working days, Client Raphael arrives earlier than expected for the assessments. He sits in the waiting room at John's practice. Imthe waiting area, Client Raphael sees the receptionist pulling out all the client files for the day. Client Raphael's file is on top, followed by a few more files. The client names and other identifying details are visible on the cover of the files.
Thabiso goes out to meet Client Raphael and invites him into the room where the assessments will be conducted. Client Raphael is surprised to find that the session will be facilitated by Thabiso and that John is unavailable for a few hours. Client Raphael is handed the assessments with no instructions given. At the end of the session, Client Raphael hands over his answer sheets and asks Thabiso when he will get feedback on the interview and the assessments. Thabiso tells Client Raphael that he doesn't know, but he assures Client Raphael that he will make enquiries with John as soon as he is available.
After three weeks (15 working days), Client Raphael contacts John's office to make further enquiries about the feedback from the activities completed in the last two sessions. John tells Client Raphael that he will have the reports ready within a week. The following week John emails the long-awaited report to Client Raphael. Unfortunately, the details of the client on the cover of the report are not Client Raphael's details. Client Raphael informs John of this issue and asks for clarity. John casually informs the client that it was a mistake on the part of the intern. He says: Don't worry about the name on the cover page. Just focus on the contents of the report’.
Client Raphael is upset by the service he has received and comes to you for advice.
discussion of case study.
discussion 1:
John is supervising an intern, Thabiso. This is encouraged by the HPCSA. In situations where Thabiso requires professional training by working with John, it is important that John contracts with his clients on this arrangement. Contracting entails proposing and discussing terms of engagement, for example, roles, boundaries and expectations. This makes it easier for the client to make an informed decision to take up your services or to go elsewhere. In this case, John should have contracted with Client Raphael regarding Thabiso's involvement in the career counselling and guidance process John's lack of contracting with the client led to Client Raphael having to ask who Thabiso was and the
purpose of his presence.
John seems to show disrespect for Client Raphael's right to human worth and dignity in that he casually tells Client Raphael that the third person is an intern under his supervision who will be joining the sessions as an observer. John further asks Client Raphael to be seated so that they can start with the session. John failed to rectify the situation and seek permission from Client Raphael Unformed consent) for Thabiso to be present during the sessions. It would seem that John has a condescending
attitude towards the client. John asks Thabiso to take notes and uses a recording device without obtaining informed consent from Client Raphael. This also infringes or Client Raphael's right to confidentiality and privacy. The client is not comfortable with the third person in the session and the data collection techniques. John has not informed Client Raphael who will have access to the information and how it will be stored and used. Another ethical concern is around the safe-keeping of records. John tells Thabiso to keep both the recording device and the notes for the time being. It is John's responsibility to safeguard records and information about the client as part of promoting the client's right to privacy and confidentiality.
This ethical concern is further highlighted by the fact that clients fles have identifying information on the covers and there is minimal care taken in the handling of client files. In the case study it is mentioned that while Client Raphael was in the waiting room he saw the receptionist pull out all the client files for the day, and he saw the client names and other identifying details visible on the covers of the files. Another example from the case study is when Client Raphael received his report only to find that the details of the client on the cover of the report were those of somebody else and not his own.
Care must be taken first, in the handling and labelling of client files to uphold the clients' right to confidentiality and privacy, and, secondly, in the correctness of information disseminated to ensure the integrity of the report, service and profession. •
When delegating work to Thabiso, John should have taken all steps to ensure that Thabiso would execute the tasks in the most competent manner and within specified guidelines. The case study states that Client Raphael was handed the assessments and not given any instructions (there is a lack of accountability and quality of service) and neither was informed consent obtained from Client Raphael to participate in the assessments. John was not available to conduct the assessments although he scheduled the appointment with the client. This also shows the poor quality of service rendered by John and his disregard for Client Raphael's right to human dignity.
QUESTIONS
3. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION IN CAREER COUNSELLING 4 marks
Objective: To foster the application of ethical considerations in the career counselling process.
Instructions: Read through the case study on pages 190-191 of your textbook.
3.1 Highlight the ethical concerns in the case study. (3)
3.2 Which professional body should Client Raphael lodge his complaint with? (1)
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### 3.1 Ethical Concerns in the Case Study
1. **Lack of Informed Consent**: John did not obtain informed consent from Client Raphael regarding Thabiso’s presence as an observer during the sessions. John also failed to inform the client about the recording device and note-taking, which impacts Raphael's right to be fully aware of who has access to his private information.
2. **Confidentiality and Privacy Violations**: John neglected to respect the client’s confidentiality when he did not shield sensitive information related to Client Raphael in the waiting area. The receptionist displayed visible client names and details, which compromised Client Raphael’s privacy.
3. **Inadequate Professional Standards**: The lack of instructions provided to Client Raphael during the assessments and the subsequent error in labeling the report indicate negligence in maintaining professional standards. John did not ensure Thabiso was adequately prepared or accountable, leading to a breach of quality care that affects the client's trust in the profession.
### 3.2 Professional Body for Complaints
Client Raphael should lodge his complaint with the **Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)**, which regulates psychologists and ensures that they adhere to ethical and professional standards.
1. **Lack of Informed Consent**: John did not obtain informed consent from Client Raphael regarding Thabiso’s presence as an observer during the sessions. John also failed to inform the client about the recording device and note-taking, which impacts Raphael's right to be fully aware of who has access to his private information.
2. **Confidentiality and Privacy Violations**: John neglected to respect the client’s confidentiality when he did not shield sensitive information related to Client Raphael in the waiting area. The receptionist displayed visible client names and details, which compromised Client Raphael’s privacy.
3. **Inadequate Professional Standards**: The lack of instructions provided to Client Raphael during the assessments and the subsequent error in labeling the report indicate negligence in maintaining professional standards. John did not ensure Thabiso was adequately prepared or accountable, leading to a breach of quality care that affects the client's trust in the profession.
### 3.2 Professional Body for Complaints
Client Raphael should lodge his complaint with the **Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)**, which regulates psychologists and ensures that they adhere to ethical and professional standards.