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Ethics in Clinical Psychology
The current American Psychological Association (2002) ethical code features two distinct sections: General principles - the items in this section are aspirational. In other words, they describe an ideal level of ethical functioning or how psychologists should strive to conduct themselves. They don’t include specific definitions of ethical violations; instead, they offer more broad descriptions of exemplary ethical behavior. Ethical standards – this section of ethical code includes enforceable rules of conduct. Thus, if a psychologist is found guilty of an ethical violation, it is a standard (not a principle) that has been violated. Ethical Principle Sample sentence from description in ethical code Beneficence and Nonmaleficence “Psychologist strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm.” Fidelity an d Responsibility “Psychologists establish relationships of trust with those with whom they work. They aware of their professional and scientific responsibilities to society and the specific communities in which they work.” Integrity “Psychologists seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology.” Justice “Psychologists recognize that fairness and justice entitle all persons to access and benefit from the contributions of psychology and to equal quality in the processes, procedures, and services being conducted by psychologists.”
Respect for people’s rights and dignity “Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self- determination.” APA’s code of Ethics (Ethical Standards). Section 5.06 says, “Psychologists do not engage, either directly or through agents, in uninvited in-person solicitation of business from actual or potential clients/patients, or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence.” Section 6.05 says, “Psychologists may barter only if it is not clinically contraindicated and the resulting arrangement is not exploitative.” Section 5.02 says, “When psychologists provide public advice or comment via print, Internet, or other electronic transmission, they take precautions to ensure that statements…are based on their professional knowledge, training, or experience in accord with appropriate psychological literature and practice…” Section 9.01 says, “Psychologists base their opinions contained in their recommendations, reports, and diagnostic or evaluative statements…on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate their findings. “…psychologists provide opinions of the psychological characteristics of individuals only after they have conducted an examination of the individuals adequate to support their statements or conclusions.” Section 10.06 says, “Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with individuals they know to be close relatives, guardians, or significant others of current clients/patients. Psychologists do not terminate therapy to circumvent this standard.” Section 3.05 says, “A psychologist refrains from entering into a multiple relationship if the multiple relationship could reasonably be expected to impair the psychologist's objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing his or her functions as a psychologist, or otherwise risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional relationship exists. Section 10.08 says, “Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients for at least two years after cessation of termination of therapy. “Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients even after a two-year interval except in the most unusual circumstances. Psychologists who engage in such activity after the two years…and having had no [prior] sexual contact with the former client/patient, bear the burden of demonstrating that there has been no exploitation, in light of all relevant factors…”
