Risk-Benefit Analysis Letter – Behavioral Ethics
Course: PSY 7710 – Ethics for Behavior Analysts
Scenario:
You are to draft a letter evaluating a proposed treatment (DRO) for an elderly patient with dementia,
weighing ethical concerns and benefits.
Assignment Instructions / Questions:
1. Apply BACB Ethics Codes to the case scenario.
2. Assess scope of competence and appropriateness of chemical restraints.
3. Provide a functional behavior assessment critique.
4. Evaluate risks vs. benefits of DRO intervention.
5. Summarize recommendations for ethical treatment.
Deliverables:
A professional letter with an attached risk-benefit worksheet.
, Risk-Benefit Analysis
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Capella University
PSY 7710: Ethics for Behavior Analysts
Dear Mrs. Rodriguez,
Thank you for contacting me in regards to your grandfather Juan's treatment at the
nursing home facility. There are some concerns in regard to the treatment that your
grandfather is currently receiving at the nursing home. I have looked over your
grandfather's case and the documents that were provided to me from the nursing home.
First, I want to include some of the BACB Ethics Codes in this letter. The Ethics Codes were
, developed for BCBA and BCaBA to uphold ethical standards. With this in mind, I want to
start by stating my concerns with my
ethical standpoint according to the Ethics Code.
I want to state that according to the Ethics Code 1.01 Being Truthful (BACB, 2020),
I would like to inform you that I have not worked with an individual diagnosed with
Alzheimer's. My experience in this field has consisted of working with children in the early
intervention
stages who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. I also want to inform you
that, at this time, I cannot make recommendations regarding the nursing home's proposal
on using chemical restraints. This is because, according to the Ethics Code 1.05, Practicing
within the Scope of Competence advises that I am only able to practice within my scope of
competence (BACB, 2020). This means I should implement treatments I know the scope of
and how these treatments will work with the client. It is also noted that chemical restraints
are not behavior analytic, which is outside my scope of competence. According to the ethics
code 2.01, Effective Treatment services are provided consistent with behavioral principles
and are behavior analytic (BACB, 2020).
Based on my understanding of Juan's case, the nursing home is recommending the
use of chemical restraints. I understand your concern about this type of treatment because
it can be seen as controversial. The nursing home wants to use this course of treatment due
to the frequent
Course: PSY 7710 – Ethics for Behavior Analysts
Scenario:
You are to draft a letter evaluating a proposed treatment (DRO) for an elderly patient with dementia,
weighing ethical concerns and benefits.
Assignment Instructions / Questions:
1. Apply BACB Ethics Codes to the case scenario.
2. Assess scope of competence and appropriateness of chemical restraints.
3. Provide a functional behavior assessment critique.
4. Evaluate risks vs. benefits of DRO intervention.
5. Summarize recommendations for ethical treatment.
Deliverables:
A professional letter with an attached risk-benefit worksheet.
, Risk-Benefit Analysis
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Capella University
PSY 7710: Ethics for Behavior Analysts
Dear Mrs. Rodriguez,
Thank you for contacting me in regards to your grandfather Juan's treatment at the
nursing home facility. There are some concerns in regard to the treatment that your
grandfather is currently receiving at the nursing home. I have looked over your
grandfather's case and the documents that were provided to me from the nursing home.
First, I want to include some of the BACB Ethics Codes in this letter. The Ethics Codes were
, developed for BCBA and BCaBA to uphold ethical standards. With this in mind, I want to
start by stating my concerns with my
ethical standpoint according to the Ethics Code.
I want to state that according to the Ethics Code 1.01 Being Truthful (BACB, 2020),
I would like to inform you that I have not worked with an individual diagnosed with
Alzheimer's. My experience in this field has consisted of working with children in the early
intervention
stages who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. I also want to inform you
that, at this time, I cannot make recommendations regarding the nursing home's proposal
on using chemical restraints. This is because, according to the Ethics Code 1.05, Practicing
within the Scope of Competence advises that I am only able to practice within my scope of
competence (BACB, 2020). This means I should implement treatments I know the scope of
and how these treatments will work with the client. It is also noted that chemical restraints
are not behavior analytic, which is outside my scope of competence. According to the ethics
code 2.01, Effective Treatment services are provided consistent with behavioral principles
and are behavior analytic (BACB, 2020).
Based on my understanding of Juan's case, the nursing home is recommending the
use of chemical restraints. I understand your concern about this type of treatment because
it can be seen as controversial. The nursing home wants to use this course of treatment due
to the frequent
