Informed Consent Among Minors Discussion

For informed consent to occur, there must be a shared decision-making process between the psychologist and the person with whom the psychologist is engaged in a professional relationship (whether patient, client, or research subject). The psychologist must present adequate information to the other person such that he or she can understand and then decide whether to participate in that professional relationship. Three additional conditions must be met in order for informed consent to be legally valid:

1. The information presented to the client must be easily able to be understood by the client.
2. The client’s agreement to participate has to be voluntary.
3. The client must be legally competent to give consent.

For this Discussion, you explore informed consent considerations for populations that need specific protections. To prepare, select one of the following populations to use for this Discussion: minors, prisoners, inpatients, or individuals with cognitive impairments.

Post by Day 4 the name of the population you selected. Describe considerations relevant to this population that might affect informed consent. Include specific information you would and would not cover when reviewing the limits of confidentiality with a client from your chosen population.

ReadingsBarnett, J. E., Wise, E. H., Johnson-Greene, D., & Bucky, S. F. (2007). Informed consent: Too much of a good thing or not enough? Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38(2), 179–186.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Heilbrun, K., & Kramer, G. M. (2005). Involuntary medication, trial competence, and clinical dilemmas: Implications of Sell v. United States for psychological practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36(5), 459–466.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Miller, V. A., Drotar, D., & Kodish, E. (2004). Children’s competence for assent and consent: A review of empirical findings. Ethics and Behavior, 14(3), 255–295.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Nagy, T. F. (2011). Informed consent. In Essential ethics for psychologists: A primer for understanding and mastering core issues (pp. 89–104). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Pomerantz, A. M., & Handelsman, M. M. (2004). Informed consent revisited: An updated written question format. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35(2), 201–205.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Pipes, R. B., Blevins, T., & Kluck, A. (2008). Confidentiality, ethics, and informed consent. American Psychologist, 63(7), 623-624.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases