Lesson 09

ETHICAL STANDARDS ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR CLINICAL FOR CLINICAL

PSYCHOLOGISTSPSYCHOLOGISTS

Lecture 9Lecture 9

IntroductionIntroduction Maintaining the highest professional ethicsMaintaining the highest professional ethics

Higher standard than the lawHigher standard than the law

High degree of responsibilityHigh degree of responsibility

Professional contribution in every role (teacher, Professional contribution in every role (teacher, researcher, clinician)researcher, clinician)

Behaving in an appropriate, responsible, and Behaving in an appropriate, responsible, and professional mannerprofessional manner

RATIONALE:RATIONALE: Questions regarding professional ethicsQuestions regarding professional ethics

Clear & not-so-clear ethical violationsClear & not-so-clear ethical violations

Ethical Code: Updated 9 times by APAEthical Code: Updated 9 times by APA

Original document published : 1953Original document published : 1953

This recent document published : 2003, This recent document published : 2003, by APA’s Council of Representativesby APA’s Council of Representatives

INTRODUCTION AND APPLICABILITYINTRODUCTION AND APPLICABILITY Applies only to professional roles & activities as Applies only to professional roles & activities as

psychologistspsychologists

Covers wide areas & activities of all Covers wide areas & activities of all psychologistspsychologists

Applies across a variety of contextsApplies across a variety of contexts

Aims at the welfare & protection of publicAims at the welfare & protection of public

GENERAL PRINCIPLESGENERAL PRINCIPLES

Aspirational in natureAspirational in nature

Only to guide & inspire psychologistsOnly to guide & inspire psychologists

Do not represent obligationsDo not represent obligations

PRINCIPLE PRINCIPLE A A : : BENEFICENCE AND BENEFICENCE AND NON-MALEFICENCENON-MALEFICENCE

Strive to benefit publicStrive to benefit public

Seek to safeguard the welfare & rights of publicSeek to safeguard the welfare & rights of public

PRINCIPLE B: FIDELITY AND PRINCIPLE B: FIDELITY AND RESPONSIBILITYRESPONSIBILITY

Establish relationships of trustEstablish relationships of trust

Seek to manage conflictsSeek to manage conflicts

PRINCIPLE C: INTEGRITYPRINCIPLE C: INTEGRITY

Seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and Seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulnesstruthfulness

Avoid unwise or unclear commitmentsAvoid unwise or unclear commitments

PRINCIPLE D: JUSTICEPRINCIPLE D: JUSTICE Fairness and justice in the Fairness and justice in the processesprocesses, ,

proceduresprocedures, and , and servicesservices

Exercise reasonable judgmentExercise reasonable judgment

PRINCIPLE E: RESPECT FOR PRINCIPLE E: RESPECT FOR PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND DIGNITYPEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND DIGNITY

Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all peoplepeople

Respect cultural, individual, and role Respect cultural, individual, and role differencesdifferences

Try to eliminate the effects of biases on their Try to eliminate the effects of biases on their workwork

ETHICAL STANDARDSETHICAL STANDARDS

1. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES1. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES

1.01 Misuse of Psychologists' Work1.01 Misuse of Psychologists' Work

1.02 Conflicts Between Ethics and Law, 1.02 Conflicts Between Ethics and Law, Regulations, or Other Governing Legal Regulations, or Other Governing Legal AuthorityAuthority

1.03 Conflicts Between Ethics and 1.03 Conflicts Between Ethics and Organizational DemandsOrganizational Demands

1.04 Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations1.04 Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations

1. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES (cont.)1. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES (cont.)

1.05 Reporting Ethical Violations1.05 Reporting Ethical Violations

1.06 Cooperating With Ethics Committees1.06 Cooperating With Ethics Committees

1.07 Improper Complaints1.07 Improper Complaints

2. COMPETENCE2. COMPETENCE2.01 Boundaries of Competence2.01 Boundaries of Competence

(a)(a) provide services only within the provide services only within the boundaries of their competenceboundaries of their competence

(b)(b) Training must be obtained to ensure Training must be obtained to ensure competencecompetence

(c)(c) Appropriate referrals must be madeAppropriate referrals must be made

2. COMPETENCE (cont.)2. COMPETENCE (cont.)

2.02 Providing Services in Emergencies2.02 Providing Services in Emergencies

2.03 Maintaining Competence2.03 Maintaining Competence

2.04 Bases for Scientific and Professional 2.04 Bases for Scientific and Professional JudgmentsJudgments

2.05 Delegation of Work to Others2.05 Delegation of Work to Others

2.06 Personal Problems and Conflicts2.06 Personal Problems and Conflicts

3. HUMAN RELATIONS3. HUMAN RELATIONS 3.01 Unfair Discrimination3.01 Unfair Discrimination

3.02 Harassment3.02 Harassment

3.03 Avoiding Harm3.03 Avoiding Harm

3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)

3.04 Multiple Relationships3.04 Multiple Relationships

3.05 Conflict of Interest3.05 Conflict of Interest

3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)

3.06 Third-Party Requests for Services3.06 Third-Party Requests for Services

3.07 Exploitative Relationships3.07 Exploitative Relationships

3.08 Cooperation With Other Professionals3.08 Cooperation With Other Professionals

3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)

3.09 Informed Consent3.09 Informed Consent

3.10 Psychological Services Delivered To or 3.10 Psychological Services Delivered To or Through OrganizationsThrough Organizations

3.11 Interruption of Psychological Services3.11 Interruption of Psychological Services

4. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY4. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY 4.01 Maintaining Confidentiality4.01 Maintaining Confidentiality

4.02 Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality4.02 Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality

4.03 Recording4.03 Recording

4.04 Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy4.04 Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy

4. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY (cont.)4. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY (cont.)

4.05 Disclosures4.05 Disclosures

4.06 Consultations4.06 Consultations

4.07 Use of Confidential Information for 4.07 Use of Confidential Information for Educational or Other PurposesEducational or Other Purposes

5. RECORD KEEPING AND FEES5. RECORD KEEPING AND FEES

5.01 Documentation of Professional and 5.01 Documentation of Professional and Scientific Work and Maintenance of Scientific Work and Maintenance of RecordsRecords

5.02 Maintenance, Dissemination, and 5.02 Maintenance, Dissemination, and Disposal of Disposal of Confidential Records of Confidential Records of ProfessionalProfessional and Scientific Workand Scientific Work

5. RECORD KEEPING AND FEES (cont.)5. RECORD KEEPING AND FEES (cont.)

5.03 Withholding Records for Nonpayment5.03 Withholding Records for Nonpayment

5.04 Fees and Financial Arrangements5.04 Fees and Financial Arrangements

5.05 Barter With Clients/Patients5.05 Barter With Clients/Patients

5.06 Accuracy in Reports to Payors and 5.06 Accuracy in Reports to Payors and Funding SourcesFunding Sources

5.07 Referrals and Fees5.07 Referrals and Fees

6. ASSESSMENT6. ASSESSMENT

6.01 Bases for Assessments6.01 Bases for Assessments

(recommendations, reports, and diagnostic or (recommendations, reports, and diagnostic or evaluative statements)evaluative statements)

6. ASSESSMENT (cont.)6. ASSESSMENT (cont.)

6.02 Use of Assessments6.02 Use of Assessments

6.03 Informed Consent in Assessments6.03 Informed Consent in Assessments

6. ASSESSMENT (cont.)6. ASSESSMENT (cont.)

6.04 Interpreting Assessment Results6.04 Interpreting Assessment Results

6.05 Assessment by Unqualified Persons6.05 Assessment by Unqualified Persons

6.06 Obsolete Tests and Outdated Test 6.06 Obsolete Tests and Outdated Test ResultsResults

6.07 Explaining Assessment Results6.07 Explaining Assessment Results

7. THERAPY7. THERAPY7.01 Informed Consent to Therapy7.01 Informed Consent to Therapy

7.02 Therapy Involving Couples or Families7.02 Therapy Involving Couples or Families

7.03 Group Therapy7.03 Group Therapy

7. THERAPY (cont.)7. THERAPY (cont.)

7.04 Providing Therapy to Those Served by 7.04 Providing Therapy to Those Served by OthersOthers

7.05 Sexual Intimacies With Current Therapy 7.05 Sexual Intimacies With Current Therapy Clients/PatientsClients/Patients

7.06 Intimacies With Relatives or Significant 7.06 Intimacies With Relatives or Significant Others of Current Therapy Clients/PatientsOthers of Current Therapy Clients/Patients

7.07 Interruption of Therapy7.07 Interruption of Therapy

7. THERAPY (cont.)7. THERAPY (cont.)

7.08 Terminating Therapy7.08 Terminating Therapy

When no longer neededWhen no longer needed

When threatened or otherwise endangeredWhen threatened or otherwise endangered

Provide pre-termination counselingProvide pre-termination counseling

Suggest alternative service providers as Suggest alternative service providers as appropriateappropriate

ConclusionConclusion

Thus, clinical psychologists must closely and Thus, clinical psychologists must closely and carefully follow ethical principles to ensure that carefully follow ethical principles to ensure that they behave in an appropriate, responsible, and they behave in an appropriate, responsible, and professional manner protecting the public as well professional manner protecting the public as well as the profession. as the profession.