CA LAW AND ETHICS EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
"internal reality"
- answers-used throughout the course content to describe a compilation of factors that
include, but are not limited to, an individual's life experiences, beliefs, biases, fears,
emotional injuries, religious values, financial values, socioeconomic values, cultural
values, relational power differentials, and morality. These factors can be useful in
therapy, but they can also cloud clinical judgment if not tempered by objectivity gained
through self-awareness, knowledge, training, and clinical skills.
A child abuse report may be filed by fax or electronic transmission in which of the
following situations?
- answers-Only if a telephone report was attempted, but not possible. The law states
that a mandated reporter who is unable to submit an initial report by telephone shall
immediately, or as soon as is practicably possible, submit the initial report by fax or
electronic transmission.
A clinical social worker who claims to use a specific evidence-based method without
having been adequately trained in the method is an example of which of the following?
- answers-Misrepresentation.
A psychotherapy client reveals that three years ago he murdered his 35-year-old wife.
In this case, the therapist has a legal obligation to do which of the following?
- answers-Keep the information confidential. Because all information received from a
psychotherapy client must be kept confidential unless there is a law requiring or
permitting disclosure of the information. Information about murdering a child or an elder
or dependent adult and the danger of future violence to another person must be
disclosed. There is no law requiring or permitting disclosure of information about a past
murder of an adult (ages 18-64).
A therapist has a duty to warn the potential victim of a patient's likelihood of serious
violence if the information about the danger comes from which of the following?
- answers-Anyone considered credible by the therapist.
access to records
- answers-The NASW Code of Ethics states: "Social workers should limit clients' access
to their records, or portions of their records, only in exceptional circumstances when
there is compelling evidence that such access would cause serious harm to the client."
, It is the federal HIPAA law that uses the stricter standard for barring access to records
based on the risk of serious physical injury or death to the client or another person.
According to California Business and Professions Code (BPC) Chapter 14, Section
4992.3, which of the following is defined as unprofessional conduct?
- answers-Failure to keep records consistent with sound clinical judgment, the
standards of the profession, and the nature of the services being rendered.
Advertising in a manner that is false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive, as defined by
Section 651.
Intentionally or recklessly causing physical or emotional harm to any client.
According to California law, an LCSW may not have sexual relations with a former
client...
- answers-For a period of two years following termination from therapy.
According to the California Business and Professions Code (BPC), Chapter 14: Social
Worker, the term "gross negligence" refers to which of the following?
- answers-Acts or omissions falling below the profession's standard of conduct.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, a client's consent to receive social work
services can be considered "informed consent" only if...
- answers-... the client was first informed of the potential risks related to the service.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, a client's right to self-determination may be
limited only when the client's actions or potential actions do which of the following?
- answers-Pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to self or others.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, a social worker's primary responsibility is to do
which of the following?
- answers-promote the well-being of clients.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, in fee for service settings, services may be
terminated when clients fail to pay an overdue balance only if...
- answers-... the financial contractual arrangements have been made clear to the client,
the client does not pose an imminent danger, and the consequences of the current
nonpayment have been addressed with the client.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers should explore and participate in
bartering only in very limited circumstances, including which of the following?
- answers-The Code discourages bartering arrangements between social workers and
clients but does not prohibit them entirely. According to the Code, social workers should
explore and participate in bartering only in very limited circumstances, namely, (1) when
it can be demonstrated that such arrangements are an accepted practice among
professionals in the local community, (2) when bartering is considered to be essential
for the provision of services and is negotiated without coercion, and (3) when the
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
"internal reality"
- answers-used throughout the course content to describe a compilation of factors that
include, but are not limited to, an individual's life experiences, beliefs, biases, fears,
emotional injuries, religious values, financial values, socioeconomic values, cultural
values, relational power differentials, and morality. These factors can be useful in
therapy, but they can also cloud clinical judgment if not tempered by objectivity gained
through self-awareness, knowledge, training, and clinical skills.
A child abuse report may be filed by fax or electronic transmission in which of the
following situations?
- answers-Only if a telephone report was attempted, but not possible. The law states
that a mandated reporter who is unable to submit an initial report by telephone shall
immediately, or as soon as is practicably possible, submit the initial report by fax or
electronic transmission.
A clinical social worker who claims to use a specific evidence-based method without
having been adequately trained in the method is an example of which of the following?
- answers-Misrepresentation.
A psychotherapy client reveals that three years ago he murdered his 35-year-old wife.
In this case, the therapist has a legal obligation to do which of the following?
- answers-Keep the information confidential. Because all information received from a
psychotherapy client must be kept confidential unless there is a law requiring or
permitting disclosure of the information. Information about murdering a child or an elder
or dependent adult and the danger of future violence to another person must be
disclosed. There is no law requiring or permitting disclosure of information about a past
murder of an adult (ages 18-64).
A therapist has a duty to warn the potential victim of a patient's likelihood of serious
violence if the information about the danger comes from which of the following?
- answers-Anyone considered credible by the therapist.
access to records
- answers-The NASW Code of Ethics states: "Social workers should limit clients' access
to their records, or portions of their records, only in exceptional circumstances when
there is compelling evidence that such access would cause serious harm to the client."
, It is the federal HIPAA law that uses the stricter standard for barring access to records
based on the risk of serious physical injury or death to the client or another person.
According to California Business and Professions Code (BPC) Chapter 14, Section
4992.3, which of the following is defined as unprofessional conduct?
- answers-Failure to keep records consistent with sound clinical judgment, the
standards of the profession, and the nature of the services being rendered.
Advertising in a manner that is false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive, as defined by
Section 651.
Intentionally or recklessly causing physical or emotional harm to any client.
According to California law, an LCSW may not have sexual relations with a former
client...
- answers-For a period of two years following termination from therapy.
According to the California Business and Professions Code (BPC), Chapter 14: Social
Worker, the term "gross negligence" refers to which of the following?
- answers-Acts or omissions falling below the profession's standard of conduct.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, a client's consent to receive social work
services can be considered "informed consent" only if...
- answers-... the client was first informed of the potential risks related to the service.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, a client's right to self-determination may be
limited only when the client's actions or potential actions do which of the following?
- answers-Pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to self or others.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, a social worker's primary responsibility is to do
which of the following?
- answers-promote the well-being of clients.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, in fee for service settings, services may be
terminated when clients fail to pay an overdue balance only if...
- answers-... the financial contractual arrangements have been made clear to the client,
the client does not pose an imminent danger, and the consequences of the current
nonpayment have been addressed with the client.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers should explore and participate in
bartering only in very limited circumstances, including which of the following?
- answers-The Code discourages bartering arrangements between social workers and
clients but does not prohibit them entirely. According to the Code, social workers should
explore and participate in bartering only in very limited circumstances, namely, (1) when
it can be demonstrated that such arrangements are an accepted practice among
professionals in the local community, (2) when bartering is considered to be essential
for the provision of services and is negotiated without coercion, and (3) when the
