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Article 1: Tan, J.O.A., Passerini, G.E., Stewart, A. (April 2007). Consent and Confidentiality in Clinical Work with Young People. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry, 12(2), 191-210.

Abstract: Consent and confidentiality are increasingly important in clinical practice.However, the dilemmas faced by mental health practitioners can be highly complex and difficult to resolve. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that consent and confidentiality are subject to several different types of legislation based on different principles, and many of the policies which are formulated for general medical practice may not fit well with the mental healthcare context. The ethical principles, evidence base, legal context, developmental considerations and clinical context relevant to each situation must all be integrated, in consultation with children and adolescents and their parents, in order to arrive at a treatment plan which is sensitive to the views of all, developmentally appropriate for the children and adolescents, and responsive to changes in the situation or attitudes. We offer some practical approaches, including clinical practice algorithms, to consider the issues of consent and confidentiality in the child and adolescent mental healthcare setting.

Questions that apply to this article:

1. After reading the four case studies in the article, what do you think? In your opinion, are there confidentiality issues? What would you do if you were the mental health care provider?
    

Article 2: Sawyer, S. & Prescott, D. (September 2011). Boundaries and Dual Relationships. Sexual abuse: a journal of research and treatment, 23(3), 365-380.

Abstract: Ethical standards are core components of practice standards and codes of conduct for mental health practitioners. Practice standards and ethics related to boundaries are generally based on historical review, study of mental health services, and the impact of boundary crossing or boundary violations on clients receiving services. This article explores some common standards of ethical practice related to boundaries and dual or multiple relationships between mental health professionals and clients. The underlying conceptual basis for these standards and examples of questions encountered in clinical practice with sexual offenders are explored.

Questions that apply to this article:

1. Can you come up with a few examples of dual (multiple) relationships not mentioned in the book or article?.