title: Residential paraprofessionals' perceptions of and responses to work-related ethical dilemmas.
abstract: Paraprofessionals' awareness of possible ethical violations related to supporting consumers with mental retardation was evaluated. Eighty-one paraprofessionals from residential programs for adults with mental retardation responded to 10 vignettes describing hypothetical ethical violations. Results suggest that paraprofessionals recognized and recommended appropriate courses of action in response to ethical violations. When results were compared to a similar study in an inpatient psychiatric setting, findings indicated that paraprofessionals supporting persons with mental retardation were more conservative in their responses to ethical violations than were paraprofessionals supporting persons with mental illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, 414 E. Clark St., University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA. moliver@usd.edu
authors.forename: Matthew N I
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Yutrzenka
authors.forename: Pat L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Redinius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations