ABSTRACT
Neuropsychological researchers often confront ethical challenges that are similar to those found in other areas of psychology but have the additional aspect of involving participants that are cognitively impaired. Educating the administration and support staff of the institutions through which such research is performed about the unique issues involved with having participants that have cognitive impairments is a priority but can be quite challenging. In addition, pressures from a variety of sources to prematurely apply a participant’s research findings to his or her clinical situation may result in conflicts with co-workers or the participant’s family members and must be handled in a manner that is sensitive to these competing needs and yet consistent with ethical guidelines. The authors of this chapter provide a representative sampling of such cases and illustrate ways of negotiating the difficulties encountered.
