Unit 3 Discussion Ethics in ABA

For this unit, you have examined the 7-Step Model. This tool covers questions you must ask yourself when analyzing an ethical dilemma. This model examines the behavior analyst’s education and experience level, the threat of possible harm to clients, conflicts, and potential legal issues. The readings showed how the 7-Step Model can be used. When working to resolve ethical dilemmas, it is important to be prepared for any legal questions that may arise. Unit 3 covered many steps to take to make sure you, as a practitioner, are protected. Ps2, 25, ethics and Applied Behavior Analysis, the seven step model. Welcome students. Do you remember when you were in junior high school that desire to be accepted by the popular group on campus, students have to work through a variety of peer pressure at any given time. The pressure to smoke, to use drugs, to drink at a party. While some of these may be easy to refuse given the student's strong core values. Other stimuli might require a high level of decision-making. For example, say the student with a strong core values was developing a friendship with one member of the popular group. And that friend was pushing the student to give in the decision to go against his or her core beliefs and values just got a little trickier. The same can be true for behavior analysts working in the real-world. What appears to be an easy situation at first glance can become very complicated very quickly. To frequent situations that can impact decision-making can be the desire to hold onto a job and the blurring of the line between service provider and friend of the family. There may be a time when your manager has a friend or relative whose child could benefit from ABA therapy and you might be asked to provide more hours per week than the FBA indicates is needed. What do you do? When what happens when the family who's four-year-old you've been working with for nine months, presents an invitation to a family social functions so that they can introduce you to their relatives. Can you see where this may blur the lines between professional relationship and a social relationship? These may seem like far-fetched situations to the novice, but they happen every day. If the behavior analyst is not grounded in the ethics code, the decision to do what the boss asked or to accept the invitation from the client's family can get very sticky. Of course, these examples represent relatively simple ethical issues. But what about the more complex issues? Let's examine a more serious situation. A BCBA has been working with a young child with a diagnosis of autism for 18 months. The BCBA, a science of behavior technician to provide ABA therapy for three of the 15 hours he receives therapy per week. The BCBA observes the behavior technician once per week and meets with the technician every two weeks to provide feedback on what they're doing well, as well as some improvements that are needed. One Tuesday, the day before the scheduled supervision meeting, the behavior technician runs into the BCBA is office and shows her a picture of the client's mouth. We're cuts on their lower lip that were fairly prominent. When the BCBA asks if the client told them what happened, the technician says that he reported that his mother choked him. Now, we have a complex situation. First, we're court mandated reporters. So it is our responsibility to report any instances where abuse is suspected. This is the case with most service providers who work with vulnerable populations. We are also accepting the word of a young child who is very rambunctious and active little boy. While at first glance, this may seem like an easy situation to handle. There are levels of complexity involved. Ultimately, we must report the situation to the supervisor who will then report it to social services. It is up to social services to investigate the incident and make decisions regarding the next steps. Because real life ethical situations are buried in their levels of complexity, it is a great idea to use the seven-step model. This model covers seven questions that behavior analysts must ask themselves if order to decide how any given ethics situation should be handled. First, one must check to see if the situation is actually covered by the ethics code for behavior analysts. If it is or if the situation is actually covered by multiple codes. We could then identify all those who may be impacted by the ethical dilemma and figure out our approach to a resolution. These players can include the Behavior Analyst, the client, the company employer, as well as the insurance company representatives. And more, depending upon the complexity. The next step is to identify three solid plans of action. That way, if your first plan does not work out, you have to others to rely on. Once you have identified your three plans, you must assess whether you have the skills and clout to carry out the plans. While a BCBA will likely be able to address most situations that occur, a behavior technician will need backup. Seeking out a supervisor for guidance in the next step is highly recommended. Before moving forward with your plan or plans as the case may be determined, all the possible risks to the client, to the Behavior Analyst, and to others. In some cases, the resolution may present risks to all three. You will want to weigh your options and discuss possible risks with your client or your client's families and others who will be impacted. There are other considerations to make when determining the complexity of your ethical dilemma and utilizing the seven step model. And one important consideration is your legal defense. It may seem unlikely that you would be called as a witness or named as a defendant in a legal proceeding. But you cannot guarantee that this will not happen. When emotions are involved. This may happen. Document everything To Be safe, keep an email trail, record with consent, all meetings and transcribe them, and document all steps leading to the resolution or the attempted resolution. This is your career and you have to protect yourself as well as your clients. Thank you for viewing this lecture. Scenario 1 Alba, a new Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), has been working for a local company providing home-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) services to children diagnosed with autism. Recently, she was assigned a case that required expertise in feeding disorders. The baby, 9 months old, has been labeled “failure to thrive” and has only gained 5 pounds since birth. She told her supervisor that she has no expertise in this severe condition and would like to be removed from the case. Her supervisor told her that no one on staff has experience with this type of behavior and that she would have to research the condition. Scenario 2 Yukito has worked for Behavior Incorporated for 6 months. He recently had lunch with a colleague, and they discussed the stress of meeting the billable hour quota each week. His colleague told him that he finally got sick of the pressure and, about 3 weeks ago, began padding his hours. “Oh, I do a little literature review for each client and add 30 minutes to each client’s hours for billing. No more stress!” Yukito is shocked! He is faced with the question of how to handle his colleague’s breach of the Code. Discussion Choose one of the scenarios and determine possible approaches to resolving the ethical dilemma in the case. Discuss the relevant codes that apply to this scenario. Describe the 7-Step Model and explain the purpose of each step. Use the 7-Step Model to explain the next steps to follow.