Therapist Ethical Responsibilities for Spousal Abuse Cases

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Abstract
SUMMARY The purpose of this article is to review and delineate the ethical responsibilities owed by clinicians to clients who are involved in abusive relationships. Ethical responsibilities are distinct from legal mandates. There is only one legal mandate that relates to spousal abuse. This mandate is the one recently imposed on individuals working in specific settings in California to report victims who are suffering from a wound or other physical injury as a result of assaultive or abusive behavior due to criminal acts, including battering. The ethical responsibilities are discussed under the categories of the responsibility to provide effective treatment and the duty to warn/protect. Specific recommendations are made to help clinicians make ethical decisions regarding spousal abuse cases.