What must the ACA code say about informing clients when working with interdisciplinary teams?

• A. The client's information will never be shared with a team.
• B. The team’s existence is kept confidential and undisclosed.
• C. The composition and members of the team will not be disclosed.
• D. The client will be informed of the team's existence and composition, the information being shared, and the purposes.

Answer: (D)

When working with interdisciplinary teams, the ethical obligation centers on informing the client about how their care will be coordinated. The ACA emphasizes informed consent and transparency in collaborative treatment. The client should be told that a team exists, who is on that team, what information will be shared among team members, and for what purposes. They should understand how confidentiality will be protected, what will be disclosed, to whom, and why, and they should have the opportunity to consent to or set limits on information sharing when possible. This enables the client to participate meaningfully in their care and ensures that all parties are acting with the client’s privacy and well-being in mind.

Stating that the team’s existence or its composition will be kept confidential, or that information will never be shared, would impede coordinated care and contradict the principle of informed consent in team-based treatment. Sharing is appropriate when it is necessary for treatment and is guided by the client’s consent and relevant privacy protections, with limits clearly explained and documented.