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And if so, how did it go?
Have you ever had to report another practitioner for an ethics violation?
- Thread starter MiniLop
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No.. but if I had concerns about another provider, my thinking would go something like this:
First, I’d slow down and ground myself in the APA Ethics Code. Especially Standard 1.04, which encourages informal resolution when appropriate, and Standard 1.05, which outlines when formal reporting is necessary.
I'd ask myself: Is this something I can reasonably bring up with the provider directly? Would that actually help or could it cause harm or risk retaliation?
Then I’d ask: Do I have firsthand knowledge, or is this something I heard secondhand? If it’s hearsay, I’d be really cautious. Unless there’s clear evidence or direct impact to a patient I’m involved with, it might not be my role to act, at least not without more clarity.
I’d also be thinking carefully about patient confidentiality. Just because I have a concern doesn’t mean I can go sharing protected health information with supervisors or licensing boards. That’s where I might pause and consult with an ethics board, risk management, or even a lawyer, just to make sure I don’t accidentally create a new violation while trying to prevent one.
And if the concern is something a patient reported to me, I’d consider whether it’s a situation where I could empower the patient to file a report themselves, especially if they were the one harmed and it's their story to tell. If they’re not willing or able, I’d weigh that carefully. Sometimes there’s still a duty to act, but sometimes it’s more complicated.
Honestly, it's a nightmare, because if you need to informally address it, do it in a manner that doesn't get their dander up.
Can you point to any ethical guidelines that may pertain the situation?
First, I’d slow down and ground myself in the APA Ethics Code. Especially Standard 1.04, which encourages informal resolution when appropriate, and Standard 1.05, which outlines when formal reporting is necessary.
I'd ask myself: Is this something I can reasonably bring up with the provider directly? Would that actually help or could it cause harm or risk retaliation?
Then I’d ask: Do I have firsthand knowledge, or is this something I heard secondhand? If it’s hearsay, I’d be really cautious. Unless there’s clear evidence or direct impact to a patient I’m involved with, it might not be my role to act, at least not without more clarity.
I’d also be thinking carefully about patient confidentiality. Just because I have a concern doesn’t mean I can go sharing protected health information with supervisors or licensing boards. That’s where I might pause and consult with an ethics board, risk management, or even a lawyer, just to make sure I don’t accidentally create a new violation while trying to prevent one.
And if the concern is something a patient reported to me, I’d consider whether it’s a situation where I could empower the patient to file a report themselves, especially if they were the one harmed and it's their story to tell. If they’re not willing or able, I’d weigh that carefully. Sometimes there’s still a duty to act, but sometimes it’s more complicated.
Honestly, it's a nightmare, because if you need to informally address it, do it in a manner that doesn't get their dander up.
Can you point to any ethical guidelines that may pertain the situation?
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Thanks for your thoughts. I've already met with a lawyer at my malpractice insurance (for no extra fee! Nice perk of the insurance) and feel like I have a pretty good lock on what to do/what not to do. Mostly just curious if anyone else has been through this and what their experience was like.
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Saw a grad student do it during my training. They had enough distance from the practitioner and practice setting that they didn't experience blowback, and for them, the feeling of doing the right thing made it worthwhile. I had a case of considering it as a manager, but ultimately felt I didn't have enough to make a report. Good luck with it either way, it is not an easy thing to do. And to bring a different flavor to the replies - if we don't protect our patients and our profession, who will?
