Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) Practice Test

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What does the APA recommend regarding psychologists and confidentiality in HIV transmission cases?

required to protect partners of patients with HIV/AIDS
required to protect partners only with patient consent
not required to protect partners of patients with HIV/AIDS
required to protect partners only if protected from liability

The correct answer is: not required to protect partners of patients with HIV/AIDS

The correct answer is that psychologists are not required to protect partners of patients with HIV/AIDS. The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in the patient-therapist relationship, which means that psychologists must prioritize the privacy and rights of their clients. However, there are limits to confidentiality particularly in cases where there is a risk of harm to others. In the context of HIV transmission, while psychologists can counsel patients about the importance of disclosing their status to potential partners, they do not have a legal obligation to breach confidentiality or disclose information about a patient's HIV status without the patient’s consent—unless there are specific state laws that mandate reporting in cases where there is a clear and imminent risk of harm. Therefore, the idea that psychologists are required to protect the partners of patients with HIV/AIDS without patient consent does not align with the overarching principles of confidentiality laid out by the APA. This clarification helps to highlight the nuance involved in ethical practice related to confidentiality issues in the realm of HIV transmission, aligning with relevant legal and ethical guidelines.