CHILD ABUSE AND THE LIMITS OF CONFIDENTIALITY: FOREWARNING PRACTICES

• NCJ Number: 143071
• Journal: Behavioral Sciences and the Law Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1993) Pages: 181-192
• Author(s): W B Crenshaw; J W Lichtenberg
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This paper is part of a larger study presented at the 98th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association at Boston, August 1990.

Annotation

This paper reviews relevant literature on when and how mental health professionals explain the limits of confidentiality to clients as regards the mandated reporting of suspected child abuse by clients; it reports the results of a survey of mental health professionals to determine their practices in this area.

Abstract

The authors first review issues associated with mandatory reporting and confidentiality as they relate to forewarning clients about the limits of confidentiality, and then they define and discuss forewarning as contrasted with "informing." One section of the paper examines State child abuse reporting statutes, case law, and ethical guidelines pertinent to forewarning. The survey of mental health professionals solicited information on the forewarning practices of a sample of 428. Survey findings indicate that 36.9 percent forewarned all clients; 36.4 percent informed clients only upon suspicion of abuse; and 20.6 percent informed clients only after receiving a disclosure of abuse. The implications of these findings are discussed. 31 references