There
are numerous forces that govern the helping professions. For
example, there are professional organizations that guide the
practice and education of professionals trained within the
helping professions. Most of these national and international
organizations have a code of ethics that serve to guide the
standards of practice for a specific profession. Most states
also have legal regulations that help to define the appropriate
professional care for persons at risk for suicide. Knowledge
of the basic code of conduct and standards for ethical mental
health practice is always important, however, it may mean
the difference between life and death when treating the suicidal
client.
The
following are some ethical and legal issues related to the
professional's activities in the treatment of suicide:
Exclusion
or inclusion of suicidal participants in clinical trials
(Reference 2)
Intervention
research with suicidal patients taking into consideration:
Social
and scientific value
Scientific
rigor and validity
Fair
participant selection
Favorable
risk-benefit ratio
Independent
review by a data and safety monitoring board
Informed
consent
Respect
for potential and enrolled participants (Reference 1)
Quality
surveillance of individuals who have health conditions that
put them at risk for suicide and the right to privacy
Appropriate
and comprehensive mental health treatment for individuals
in correctional facilities (Reference 2)
This
is not an exhaustive listing of ethical and legal questions
within the helping professions, but does give you an idea
of some of the ethical and legal questions surrounding the
treatment of clients with suicidal ideation.
If you ever have a question
about a future clinical decision, the clinical choices of a
colleague, or any other ethical or legal concerns, contact your
professional governing organization, state board, or supervisor
for additional information and support.
Electronic,
print, and multimedia resources are provided to help you to
find additional authoritative information on Ethical and legal
guidelines when working with indivdiuals who may have suicidal
thoughts or may act on these thoughts. These resources are available
from such national organizations as The National Institute of
Mental Health as well as professional organizations, not-for-profit
organizations, and educational institutions.
Internet
American
Counseling Association (ACA)
The
ACA is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization
dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling
profession and is the world's largest association exclusively
representing professional counselors in various practice settings.
The
ACA's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice describes the
nature of the ethical responsibilities held in common by its
members and is available at the following Web address:
