Discuss two or more ethical considerations in diagnosis.

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review of two or more ethical considerations in diagnosis.

Ethical considerations may include, but are not limited to:
• consequences of an incorrect diagnosis (for example, self-fulfilling prophecies)
• effects of labelling
• the possibility of stigmatization once a client is diagnosed
• confidentiality of diagnosis
• over-diagnosis of certain disorders (for example, in relation to gender and culture)
• bias in diagnosis.

Responses may include, but are not limited to, the following theories and studies:
• Scheff (1966): labelling theory applied to the term “mentally ill”
• Thoits (1985) self-labelling processes in mental illness
• Broverman et al. (1970): gender bias in diagnosis
• Rosenhan et al. (1973): being sane in insane places
• Szasz's claim that most mental disorders should be considered as problems in living.

Candidates may refer to ethical considerations related to treatment, institutionalization, cultural/gender or other issues, and these should be credited if they are explicitly linked to diagnosis.

Candidates may discuss two ethical considerations in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may discuss a larger number of ethical considerations in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.

If a candidate discusses only one ethical consideration in diagnosis, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [5] for criterion A, knowledge and comprehension, up to a maximum of [4] for criterion B, critical thinking, and up to a maximum of [2] for criterion C, organization.