In what situation would an SLP be considered in violation of the ASHA Code of Ethics regarding statements of prognosis?

An SLP would be considered in violation of the ASHA Code of Ethics regarding statements of prognosis when they guarantee treatment results without a basis. The ethical principle here centers around the integrity and accuracy of the information provided to clients and their families. Making guarantees about treatment outcomes implies absolute certainty, which is often not feasible in the field of speech-language pathology due to the individual variability among clients and the complexities of their conditions. As such, this practice can lead to unrealistic expectations and can undermine the professional relationship with clients.

In contrast, providing uncertain treatment outcomes or refusing to offer estimates of progress does not violate ethical standards, as these actions acknowledge the complexity and variability inherent in therapeutic processes. Similarly, while disclosing client information in public forums is a clear ethical breach related to confidentiality, it does not pertain specifically to statements of prognosis. Thus, guaranteeing treatment outcomes without a legitimate basis stands out as a significant ethical violation in the practice of SLPs.