Introduction
According to the American Counseling Association, it is prohibited to evaluate current or former clients’ sexual partners or their family members in a forensic process (Bonner & Vandecreek, 2006). According to the code of ethics, counselors are not allowed to counsel the same people they are evaluating. In addition to this, counselors who are engaged in forensic evaluation are expected to maintain a professional social distance. This means that they must avoid possible relationships that can cause them to be irrational in their decision-making. Counselors are barred from nurturing injurious interaction with their client’s romantic partners as well as their family members (Bonner & Vandecreek, 2006).
Main text
The American Psychological Association also has some guidelines that stipulate some ethical principles. For instance, the association limits the practice of a counselor to his or her area of competence. Area of competence is measured and determined by the level and area of academic training, supervised experience, consultation, as well as professional experience (Hanser, Mire, & Braddock, 2011). In addition, the association discourages multiple relationships. This is more prudent especially when such engagements are deemed to ruin or compromise the psychologist’s objectivity, competence, or effectiveness while carrying out his or her duties (Hanser, Mire, & Braddock, 2011).
If multiple relationships arise due to unforeseen factors, the counselor is expected to take necessary measures to ensure the issue is resolved in the interest of the affected person (Pope & Vasquez, 2007). In the same way, counselors are expected to refrain from all kinds of professional roles when their objectivity or competence is compromised (Pope & Vasquez, 2007). This is emphasized to reduce the occurrence or the possibility of a conflict of interest.
In forensic treatment, there are several ethical dilemmas, especially in mental health treatment. For instance, a mental health patient in a correctional facility who has the propensity of attacking and hurting other patients can cause serious problems within an incarceration facility. While his or her thinking patterns are completely unpredictable, he or she may be affected by solitary confinement. To avoid his or her attacks on fellow inmates, it is prudent to confine him or her in isolation. However, isolation does not help in the healing process of a mentally ill inmate hence compromising and inhibiting the healing process.
Another dilemma occurs when the treatment of offenders is given without their consent for their good. For instance, an inmate who has severe schizophrenic illness may be treated with electroconvulsive therapy against his or her will to reduce the effects of their ailment. In this case, the ethical concerns that arise include the legality of offering treatment to a patient against his or her will as well as the effects and implication of not doing so. Doing the right thing and respecting the right of the patient to decide creates a dilemma that challenges the ability of the professionals to perform.
Conclusion
These ethical dilemmas may complicate treatment in several ways. Solitude in the treatment of mental health is very unethical and may not help in achieving the desired results. On the other hand, the ethical codes of conduct that allow patients to decide whether to take a treatment or not affect its legality. The administration of treatment to patients against their will is illegal and this affects the forensic practice. Treatment of inmates with psychological problems is a delicate and sensitive process because such inmates are not in the normal state to reason.
References
Bonner, R., & Vandecreek, L. D. (2006). Ethical decision making for correctional mental health providers. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 33(4), 542–56.
Hanser, R. D., Mire, S. M., & Braddock, A. (2011). Correctional counseling. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Pope, K. S., & Vasquez, M. J. T. (2007). Steps in Ethical Decision-Making. In Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Practical Guide. Web.