Question

When practitioners believe there may have been an ethical violation by another practitioner, or non-behavioral colleague, they attempt to resolve the issue, first by:

1) Reporting the violation to the appropriate authorities
2) Confronting the practitioner or colleague directly
3) Ignoring the violation and hoping it resolves itself
4) Seeking advice from a supervisor or professional organization

Answer 1

The first action a practitioner should take when suspecting an ethical violation by another is to seek advice from a supervisor or professional organization, following ethical principles and aiming to protect the integrity of professional practice.

Step-by-step explanation:

When practitioners suspect an ethical violation by a colleague, the recommended first step is to attempt to resolve the issue by seeking advice from a supervisor or professional organization. This approach aligns with the principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, which guide ethical decision-making, particularly in the context of research and clinical practice. It is critical to maintain the integrity of data and protect participants in all professional settings, and these issues are exacerbated when ethical guidelines are not followed as demonstrated in historical examples, such as the Milgram Experiment.

In a situation where there is an ethical concern, it is suggested that rather than reporting the violation immediately to authorities or confronting the individual, one should first seek guidance to address the problem appropriately. The course of action taken may differ based on the circumstances, but the intent is to correct potential wrongdoings while upholding ethical standards and potentially fostering an informed, collaborative resolution.