Summary: <p>Ethics: Beneficence & Non-Malfeasance<br> Presented by: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes<br> Executive Director, AllCEUs<br> Objectives<br> ~ Define beneficence and non-malfeasance<br> ~ Explore common violations of this practice</p> <p>Continuing Education (CE) credits can be earned for this presentation at <a href="https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/614/c/">https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/614/c/</a></p> <p>Beneficence<br> ~ Beneficence is PROACTIVE action that is done for the benefit of others.<br> ~ Beneficent actions can be taken to<br> ~ Prevent or remove harms<br> ~ Improve the situation of others.<br> ~ The goal of counseling is to promote the welfare of patients<br> ~ Due to the nature of the relationship between clinicians and patients, clinicians have an obligation to:<br> ~ Prevent and remove harms<br> ~ Weigh and balance possible benefits against possible risks of an action.<br> Beneficence<br> ~ Beneficence can also include:<br> ~ Protecting and defending the rights of others (Advocacy)<br> ~ Ensuring the use of a culturally sensitive, trauma informed approach<br> ~ Ensuring the availability of effective referral sources to meet the needs and preferences of clients for whom you are not a good fit<br> ~ Timely advocacy for them with their insurance company for additional session authorization<br> ~ Advocate for patient with treating physician /be an effective member of a multidisciplinary team</p> <p>Beneficence<br> ~ Beneficence can also include:<br> ~ Helping individuals struggling with mental health or addictive disorders find effective treatment based on their readiness for change<br> ~ Increasing awareness of the problems of co-occurring disorders and their treatment<br> ~ Getting continuing education to ensure awareness of current best practices for treatment<br> ~ Providing patient educational videos or handouts in the waiting room or on your website to help them take charge of their health<br> ~ Ensuring a signed release and provision of necessary information to referral sources BEFORE the patient arrives</p> <p>Non-Malfeasance<br> ~ Non-maleficence means to “do no harm.”<br> ~ Refrain from providing ineffective treatments<br> ~ Avoid acting with malice toward patients.<br> ~ Assist patients in making the best treatment decision for them, not one that provides you the most benefit.<br> ~ With all interventions, ensure benefits outweigh the risks.<br> ~ Ensure the patient is provided with all treatment options and can make choose the least restrictive environment<br> ~ Do not provide a treatment that has not been shown to be effective.<br> ~ Do not make blind referrals when possible<br> ~ Ensure referral sources are competent (i.e. licensed, certified etc.)</p> <p>Non-Malfeasance<br> ~ Non-maleficence means to “do no harm.”<br> ~ Don’t encourage clients to collude in insurance fraud<br> ~ Diagnosing them with a disorder they don’t have in order to get reimbursed<br> ~ Changing diagnoses when benefits for one run out<br> ~ Discharge clients when they have met maximal gains at that level of care<br> ~ Do not bill for services under a therapist that were provided by an intern<br> ~ Avoid, when possible, referring a patient back to the same treatment program they have already been through multiple times and relapsed</p> <p>Non-Malfeasance<br> ~ Making referrals to other providers who provide “rewards” for referrals<br> ~ F.S. 491.009 (1) (j) Paying a kickback, rebate, bonus, or other remuneration for receiving a patient or client, or receiving a kickback, rebate, bonus, or other remuneration for referring a patient or client to another provider of mental health care services or to a provider of health care services or goods; or entering into a reciprocal referral agreemen</p>
