Mandated Reporting - Abuse and Harm to Self and Others

Mandated Reporting: Abuse and Harm to Self and Others

The protection of client confidentiality is a general ethical mandate in counseling, and this protection is particularly important when working with clients from vulnerable populations. Conversely, the failure to report in a mandated reporting situation can be laden with ethical and legal implications.

All 50 states have passed some form of mandatory reporting laws for cases of abuse and neglect. All states require certain professions and institutions, including all health-care providers and facilities, all mental-health care providers, teachers and other school personnel, social workers, day-care providers, and law enforcement personnel, to report suspected child abuse.

Failure to report suspected child or elder abuse can result in criminal and/or civil liability. There are consequences for false reporting and, therefore, counselors should be mindful of false reporting laws, as well as immunity statutes and case law. People who report in "good faith" are generally immune from criminal and civil liability.

Give a brief description of two mandatory reporting issues from this examples (e.g., child abuse, elder abuse, abuse of the mentally ill, harm to self and/or others, end-of-life decisions, HIV positive/AIDS and unprotected sexual activity). Then analyze the implications of failing to report in these examples. Finally, research if there is a statuary requirement to report either or both of your examples in the state of .Explain how and why you would address these issues.