There are many codes of ethics that apply to mental health practitioners and that require them to make business plans that safe guard their clients in the event of their death or disability. Here are a few to give you an idea of the language that is used and the responsibilities that may apply to you.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists:
The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Code of Ethics (Section 1.3): "Marriage and family therapists, therefore, maintain practices and procedures that assure undisrupted care. Such practices and procedures may include, but are not limited to, providing contact information and specified procedures in case of emergency, or therapist absence, conducting appropriate terminations, and providing for a professional will."
The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Code of Ethics (Section 1.11): "Marriage and family therapists do not abandon or neglect clients in treatment without making reasonable arrangements for the continuation of such treatment."
Licensed Clinical Social Workers:
National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics Rule 1.15: "Social workers should make reasonable efforts to ensure continuity of services in the event that services are interrupted by factors such as unavailability, relocation, illness, disability, or death."
Psychologists:
The American Psychological Association's Ethics Code (Section 10.09 and 3.12): "Psychologists make plans in advance to facilitate the appropriate transfer and to protect the confidentiality of records and data in the event of psychologists' withdrawal from positions or practice."
California Business and Professions Code section 2919: "A licensed psychologist shall retain a patient's health service records for a minimum of seven years from the patient's discharge date. If the patient is a minor, the patient's health service records shall be retained for a minimum of seven years from the date the patient reaches 18 years of age."
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors:
American Counseling Association Code of Ethics Rule C.2.h.: "When counselors leave a practice, they follow a prepared plan for transfer of clients and files. Counselors prepare and disseminate to an identified colleague or “records custodian” a plan for the transfer of clients and files in the case of their incapacitation, death, or termination of practice."
Psychiatrists:
The American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association's Ethics Code (Opinion 8.115 Section I, IV): "Physicians have an obligation to support continuity of care for their patients. While physicians have the option of withdrawing from a case, they cannot do so without giving notice to the patient, the relatives, or responsible friends sufficiently long in advance of withdrawal to permit another medical attendant to be secured."
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists:
The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Code of Ethics (Section 1.3): "Marriage and family therapists, therefore, maintain practices and procedures that assure undisrupted care. Such practices and procedures may include, but are not limited to, providing contact information and specified procedures in case of emergency, or therapist absence, conducting appropriate terminations, and providing for a professional will."
The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Code of Ethics (Section 1.11): "Marriage and family therapists do not abandon or neglect clients in treatment without making reasonable arrangements for the continuation of such treatment."
Licensed Clinical Social Workers:
National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics Rule 1.15: "Social workers should make reasonable efforts to ensure continuity of services in the event that services are interrupted by factors such as unavailability, relocation, illness, disability, or death."
Psychologists:
The American Psychological Association's Ethics Code (Section 10.09 and 3.12): "Psychologists make plans in advance to facilitate the appropriate transfer and to protect the confidentiality of records and data in the event of psychologists' withdrawal from positions or practice."
California Business and Professions Code section 2919: "A licensed psychologist shall retain a patient's health service records for a minimum of seven years from the patient's discharge date. If the patient is a minor, the patient's health service records shall be retained for a minimum of seven years from the date the patient reaches 18 years of age."
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors:
American Counseling Association Code of Ethics Rule C.2.h.: "When counselors leave a practice, they follow a prepared plan for transfer of clients and files. Counselors prepare and disseminate to an identified colleague or “records custodian” a plan for the transfer of clients and files in the case of their incapacitation, death, or termination of practice."
Psychiatrists:
The American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association's Ethics Code (Opinion 8.115 Section I, IV): "Physicians have an obligation to support continuity of care for their patients. While physicians have the option of withdrawing from a case, they cannot do so without giving notice to the patient, the relatives, or responsible friends sufficiently long in advance of withdrawal to permit another medical attendant to be secured."
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