Fiduciary duty and boundaries: acting in the client's best interest

Reviews the ethical rules of the major mental health associations and the American Medical Association to determine the professions' ethical positions with regard to boundary maintenance and boundary violations. Also analyzes judicially sanctioned causes or action for recovery by clients for damages suffered as a result of boundary violations. Examines ways in which fiduciary theory is used in the formulation of ethical rules and to support the imposition of civil liability for boundary violations. Fiduciary theory provides a useful paradigm for setting and evaluating boundaries that acknowledge and address the fiduciary nature of the therapist-client relationship. (Original abstract-amended)