[SOLVED] Responsibility to Clients and Stakeholders

“This week, we look at a behavior analyst's responsibility to clients and
stakeholders. Choose one of the three scenarios below and answer the following
(please put in the subject line which scenario you are discussing):
 Describe how you would handle the scenario.
 Discuss how the scenario meets or violates the specific ethics codes.

Scenario 1
A BCBA works with a mother who homeschools her child. The child is a 6-year-
old boy with autism. The BCBA has done a functional assessment and has
identified the controlling variables for the child’s target behavior. In the opinion of
the BCBA, the best data collection system for gathering baseline data would
require daily entries by the mother. A data collection system has been designed
that is easy to understand and score; however, the mother does not take the data
despite the BCBA’s best attempts to prompt and reinforce her. This child really
needs help, but with no data, it will be hard to provide treatment. Should the
BCBA terminate services? (Bailey & Burch, 2016, p. 269)

Scenario 2
One part of my new job is to write up client progress notes. I use these notes and
my data to keep track of where I am with my clients. My supervisor also uses my
notes to determine if I am handling cases efficiently and effectively. If a client
meets a goal, I record it in my notes. I became aware recently that my notes are
also being used to document the need for continuing funding for clients. While I
am excited that I have helped someone, the administration is upset that because
I have written “Goal met” or “Case closed,” the funding stream for this client will
dry up.

A recent conversation with my supervisor was quite disturbing—it was
suggested to me in a somewhat roundabout way that rather than saying that the
client had reached his goal, I should indicate that there were other goals for him
to work on and that further training was indicated. I thought about it and went
back the next day for a clarification, just to make sure I understood; the answer
was, “Yes, that’s right.” I have been following these directions now for a couple of

Discussion Post
Discussion Post
months, but it doesn’t feel right to me. If a client has met his goal, it seems to me
that this should be a cause for celebration and an opportunity to take in a new
client who needs our help. Am I missing something here? Am I harming the
facility because it gets less funding when I terminate a client? (Bailey & Burch,
2016, pp. 275–276)

Scenario 3
What are the ethics related to ending behavioral services because you have not
been paid in several months? This happens frequently in my district. I started
working with one client in October. It is now March, and I have never received a
check. I have called the support coordinator, and she just says sometimes the
system is slow. Everyone in our district thinks we have an ethical obligation to
provide services, so we can’t terminate clients over lack of payment.
Somewhere, on someone’s desk, I am guessing our behavior analysis invoices
are just piling up. Our clients have a “right to treatment.” Do we have a “right to
be paid"? (Bailey & Burch, 2016, pp. 269–270)”

Related: [SOLVED] Relapse and Recovery