What is the ethical approach to using role-play in training?

• A. Use role-play without consent to simulate scenarios.
• B. Obtain consent, protect participants, maintain confidentiality, and avoid harm or exploitation.
• C. Use role-play only with payment participants.
• D. Ignore confidentiality in training.

Answer: (B)

Ethical practice in role-play training centers on obtaining consent, protecting participants, maintaining confidentiality, and avoiding harm or exploitation. This approach acknowledges that even simulated scenarios can touch personal or sensitive areas, so informed consent is essential: participants should know what the activity involves, potential triggers, and they must be free to withdraw at any time without penalty. Protecting participants means screening for suitability, monitoring for distress, and providing opportunities to pause or debrief, with support available if needed. Maintaining confidentiality creates a safe learning environment where details shared in role-play aren’t disclosed beyond the group unless there’s explicit permission. Avoiding harm or exploitation means using respectful, non-coercive scenarios, upholding boundaries, and ensuring fair treatment for all participants, including appropriate compensation and avoiding pressure to participate.

The other options violate these ethical principles: conducting role-play without consent risks coercion and harm; using paid participants can introduce conflicts of interest or exploitation; ignoring confidentiality breaches trust and privacy, undermining safety in training.