Case Information. What should be done in this ethical dilemma?
You are conducting a study of resilience among families that have experienced domestic violence. You will meet with participants four times over a 1-year period, conducting numerous assessments of their psychological well-being and daily functioning in order to study patterns over time.
Maria is a 32-year-old Latina woman. She has volunteered herself and her daughter, Rosalinda (age 6) to participate in your study. Maria explains that she is separated from Rosalinda’s father, who has allegedly committed violent acts in the home. When Maria and Rosalinda came to the first data collection session, Maria read and signed an informed consent form while in the waiting room. The form was fairly standard, citing all the usual terms of and exceptions to confidentiality.
Over the course of the study, during the sessions, you begin to know both mother and daughter well. As you make your way through the daily functioning assessment interviews at the third session, Maria tells you that she has started to date again. Maria seems unusually anxious about finishing the interviews quickly. She watches the clock and interrupts you to confirm that she will be receiving the same $50 stipend that she received at the end of previous sessions. You also notice that Rosalinda's distress symptoms appear to be getting worse. For example, she is extremely upset when Maria goes to the restroom and cannot be calmed for the rest of the session. However, you are not a clinician, so your impressions are based on your own personal experiences with children.
Shortly after Maria and Rosalinda leave, a man approaches your office and introduces himself as Maria's husband. He appears to have followed them and wants to know what she and Rosalinda were doing in your office. He does not seem threatening in any way and seems quite civil and pleasant.