How should a clinician handle consent for telepractice?

• A. Discuss potential benefits without detailing limitations or privacy concerns.
• B. Provide consent after the first session by default.
• C. Explain telepractice limitations, privacy risks, technology used, security measures, and obtain explicit consent.
• D. Assume consent if the client uses the telepractice platform.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is informed consent tailored to telepractice. Because delivering services remotely introduces specific risks and limitations, the clinician must clearly explain what telepractice can and cannot do, what privacy and security measures are in place, and what technology will be used. The client should understand potential issues such as technical connectivity problems, limitations in observation or assessment, and how emergencies or issues with the session will be handled. After this explanation, the clinician should obtain explicit consent before starting, ideally in writing or digitally, and document that the client understood and agreed to the telepractice arrangement. Consent should be revisited if the platform changes, new features are added, or privacy controls are updated. Relying on benefits alone, waiting until after the first session, or assuming consent by usage does not meet ethical standards for informed consent in telepractice.