Ethical and Clinical Considerations of Writing About Patients in Case Reports and Other Psychological Writing

This workshop will help clinicians, journal editors, educators, and students navigate the complexity of protecting patient confidentiality and maintaining ethical and legal compliance while continuing to advance the field of psychology using case reports and other psychological writing. The workshop will include a multimedia examination of historical and current publishing practices; an analysis of ethical and legal standards; and a discussion of the risks, benefits, and recommendations of using specific techniques when writing about patients. Workshop participants will also create their own clinical plan informed by best practices and ethical guidelines.

• Compare the clinical benefits and risks of engaging in informed consent, using patient disguise, and creating case composites.
• Identify relevant ethical standards and HIPAA rules related to writing about patients.

Barbara Sieck, PhD