Professional self-care is an ethical obligation owed to clients.  Treating high risk clients underscores the importance and challenge of professional self-care.  Potentially high-risk clients include those in significant child custody conflict, clients who threaten harm to self or others, and can also include those who have significant boundary issues, mood dysregulation, serious substance abuse or borderline personality disorder.  In this seminar, Dr. Emmet Burke will review Maryland law and professional ethics codes that mandate certain responses by clinicians in various situations presented by high-risk clients.  Awareness of these regulations and ethics codes is necessary to avoid liability but can actually contribute positively to the effective treatment of high-risk clients.  Carly Chick, Esq., Meritus Health Associate General Counsel and experienced malpractice defense attorney, will review best treatment practices that not only benefit clients, but reduce the risk of a malpractice or professional discipline.  Finally, Circuit Court Judge Dana Moylan Wright will offer insight and guidance when attorneys and the Court require information and possible testimony from clinicians.

Course Objectives:

Participants will learn to:

• Recognize high‑risk clinical situations and client presentations that require awareness of ethics codes and legal requirements
• Adopt safety precautions when treating high risk clients
• Understand how legal mandates can contribute to effective treatment of high-risk patients
• Use best practices that protect clients while reducing malpractice and disciplinary risk
• Respond effectively to attorneys, courts, and subpoenas, while maintaining professional and ethical boundaries

Featuring Presenter Team:

Dr. Emmet Burke, PhD, JD Clinical Psychologist, Brook Lane

Dr. Burke is an admitting psychologist at Brook Lane. He provides diagnostic consultations on the inpatient unit and serves as a resource for mental health law and ethics issues.  He holds a Doctorate degree in clinical psychology from the Catholic University of American in Washington, DC and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law. He has been on staff since 1980.

The Honorable Dana Moylan Wright, Circuit Court of Washington County, Maryland.

Judge Wright has a special interest in mental health and, for over a decade, has participated in Brook Lane’s annual clinical, legal, and ethics continuing education seminars, offering practical court insights on mental health-related issues.

Carly A. Chick, Esq.

Carly Chick, Esq., is in-house legal counsel for Meritus Health, where she focuses on behavioral health law, risk management, claims oversight, regulatory compliance, and complex healthcare contracting. She works closely with clinical and operational leaders across Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, to support patient safety and legally sound clinical decision-making. Prior to joining Meritus, Carly litigated in private practice, representing healthcare organizations and clinicians in medical malpractice and employment matters.

Waived registration fees are available for Brook Lane employees, and eligible Meritus Health and MSOM faculty, staff, & students. Please use your organizational email when registering.

Location: Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) | Fletcher Conference Center

With gratitude, Brook Lane acknowledges this program is funded in part by the William B. and Sylvia A. Hunsberger Fund. Thank you.