Question 1

What should I do if my employer asks me to provide more therapy hours than clinically indicated?

Accepted Answer

This is a conflict between business interests and clinical judgment. The BACB Ethics Code (Section 2.01) requires that behavior analysts act in the best interest of their clients. If you believe additional hours are not clinically justified, document your clinical reasoning, communicate your concerns to your supervisor in writing, and if the issue is not resolved, consider filing a complaint with the BACB or seeking guidance from ESBAP's ethics resources.

Question 2

Can I supervise more RBTs than I can meaningfully oversee?

Accepted Answer

The BACB requires at least 5% of each RBT's direct service hours be supervised. However, the Ethics Code (Section 4.05) requires that supervision be effective, not just compliant. If you cannot provide meaningful oversight to all your supervisees, you have an ethical obligation to address the issue with your employer. ESBAP recommends a maximum ratio of 1 BCBA to 6 RBTs.

Question 3

What should I do if I witness unethical billing practices at my organization?

Accepted Answer

The BACB Ethics Code requires behavior analysts to be truthful and honest (Section 1.10). If you witness billing for services not rendered, upcoding, or other fraudulent practices, document what you observe, report to your organization's compliance department, and if unresolved, consider reporting to the BACB, your state licensing board, and the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Question 4

Is it ethical to use ABA techniques that my client's parents object to?

Accepted Answer

The BACB Ethics Code (Section 2.09) requires obtaining informed consent and involving clients and stakeholders in treatment decisions. If parents object to specific procedures, you should explain the clinical rationale, explore alternative approaches, and respect their decision. Proceeding over a parent's objection without clinical justification and proper consent violates ethical standards.

ABA Ethics Decision Framework

What type of ethical concern are you facing?

Clinical Decisions

Supervision

Billing and Documentation

Workplace Pressure

Professional Boundaries

Competence

Select your situation