Title: Describe legal issues related to professional caregiving.
Course: Family and Human Services I (19999-I) > Section: Examining Ethical and Professional Concerns

Description should include

- harmful and/or fraudulent behaviors (e.g., physical abuse, psychological abuse)
- financial exploitation
- compliance with federal, state, and local legal requirements (e.g., the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 [HIPAA])
- client rights and legal documents (e.g., protection of privacy, dignity, and autonomy; advance healthcare directives; legal guardianship and conservatorship; do not resuscitate order [DNR]).

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- How does one know whether an issue is legal?
- How does a professional determine whether he/she is complying with state and local regulations?
- Who determines the rights of clients?

Communication

- How do clients communicate their requests?
- To whom do families communicate their decisions regarding the client?
- What legal documentation is needed by family and human services workers?

Leadership

- What responsibility do family and human services workers have in providing awareness of laws and regulations to the client?
- What responsibility does the family have in researching the laws and regulations in the best interest of the client?
- What responsibility do financial institutions have in educating families and clients about what is fraudulent?

Management

- Why is it important for family and human services workers to provide necessary legal documentation?
- What are some obstacles encountered when trying to decipher laws and associated terminology?
- Why is it important for families to conduct research to determine what is in the best interest of the client?