Ethics Flashcards
(56 cards)
Ethics
Client Welfare
psychologists “take reasonable steps” to avoid and minimize harm to clients, students, research participants, and others with whom they work
Ethics
Pro Bono
- not used in the Ethics Code, General Principle B (Fidelity and Responsibility) states that “psychologists strive to contribute a portion of their professional time for little or no compensation or personal advantage.”
- Because pro bono services are addressed in the Ethics Code’s aspirational General Principles rather than in its mandatory Ethical Standards, this means that pro bono services are recommended by the Code but are not required.
Ethics
Ethical Violations By Colleagues
- informally by discussing the matter with the offender when an “informal resolution appears appropriate” (barring substantial harm)
- then make a formal report to the Ethics Committee, state licensing board, or other appropriate authority
- These Standards also require that, before psychologists take any action, they must consider the issue of client confidentiality.
Ethics
Complainants and Respondents
Standard 1.08 states that “psychologists do not deny persons employment, advancement, admissions to academic or other programs, tenure, or promotion, based solely upon their having made or their being the subject of an ethics complaint.
This does not preclude taking action based upon the outcome of such proceedings or considering other appropriate information.”
Ethics
Competence
Standard 2.01 requires psychologists to “provide services, teach, and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience.”
Ethics
Vicarious Liability
Under certain circumstances, supervisors and employers may be legally responsible for the actions of their supervisees and employees. This is referred to as vicarious liability (respondeat superior).
Ethics
Personal Problems
- Psychologists refrain from initiating an activity when they know or should know that there is a substantial likelihood that their personal problems will prevent them from performing their work-related activities in a competent manner …
- When psychologists become aware of personal problems that may interfere with their performing work-related duties adequately, they take appropriate measures, such as obtaining professional consultation or assistance, and determine whether they should limit, suspend, or terminate their work-related duties.”
Ethics
Sexual Harassment
- sexual solicitation
- physical advances
- verbal or nonverbal conduct that is sexual in nature
- unwelcome, is offensive, or creates a hostile workplace or educational environment, and the psychologist knows or is told this
- is sufficiently severe or intense to be abusive to a reasonable person in the context.”
Ethics
Multiple Relationships
- refrains from entering into a multiple relationship if it could reasonably be expected to impair the psychologist’s objectivity, competence, or effectiveness
- if it risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional relationship exists.
Ethics
Informed Consent
when psychologists conduct research or provide assessment, therapy, counseling, or consulting services in person or via electronic transmission
they obtain the informed consent of the individual or individuals using language that is reasonably understandable to that person or persons.”
for persons who are legally incapable of giving informed consent, psychologists nevertheless
1. provide an appropriate explanation,
2. seek the individual’s assent,
3. consider such persons’ preferences and best interests, and
4. obtain appropriate permission from a legally authorized person.
Ethics
Confidentiality
Confidentiality refers to the obligation of psychologists to protect clients from unauthorized disclosure of information revealed in the context of the professional relationship. Confidentiality is an ethical principle and, in some situations, a legal requirement.
Ethics
Privilege And Holder Of The Privilege
- Privilege is a legal concept that protects a client’s confidentiality in the context of legal proceedings.
- Most jurisdictions have laws that establish privilege for communications between licensed mental health practitioners and their clients.
- The client is ordinarily the “holder of the privilege,” but a psychologist can claim the privilege on behalf of a client, and there are legally defined exceptions to privilege.
Ethics
Tarasoff Decision
The original Tarasoff decision established a “duty to warn” an intended victim of a therapy client; however, in a rehearing of the case, this was changed to a “duty to protect” an intended victim by warning him/her, notifying the police, or taking other steps.
In most jurisdictions, the duty to warn/protect applies only when a client poses a clear and imminent danger to an identifiable victim or victims (although, in some jurisdictions, the duty has been expanded to include an identifiable “class of victims”).
Ethics
Child Abuse Reporting
Although the specific laws vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, all jurisdictions require psychologists to report known or suspected cases of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
Ethics
Consultation
- do not disclose confidential information that reasonably could lead to the identification of a client/patient, research participant, or other person or organization with whom they have a confidential relationship unless they have obtained the prior consent of the person or organization or the disclosure cannot be avoided
- they disclose information only to the extent necessary to achieve the purposes of the consultation
Ethics
Client Testimonials
Standard 5.05 states that “psychologists do not solicit testimonials from current therapy clients/patients or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence.”
Ethics
In-Person Solicitation
Standard 5.06 states that “psychologists do not engage, directly or through agents, in uninvited in-person solicitation of business from actual or potential therapy clients/patients or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence.” It also identifies two exceptions to this prohibition - i.e., making “collateral contacts for the purpose of benefiting an already engaged therapy client/patient … [and] providing disaster or community outreach services.”
Ethics
Client Access To Records
Client access to records is determined by law but, in general, the psychologist is the owner of the physical record while the client has the right to inspect the contents of the record.
Ethics
Collection Agencies
can use, must inform and provide that person an opportunity to make prompt payment.
Ethics
Barter
may engage in barter only when it is not clinically contraindicated and when it is not exploitative (and does not start a multiple relationship)
Ethics
Referral Fees
When psychologists pay, receive payment from, or divide fees with another professional, other than in an employer-employee relationship, the payment to each is based on the services provided (clinical, consultative, administrative, or other) and is not based on the referral itself.
Ethics
Sliding Fee Scale
A sliding fee scale is not explicitly addressed by the Ethics Code but is generally considered acceptable as long as the scale is fair and serves the best interests of the client.
Ethics
Education and Supervision
act competently and responsibly when teaching, supervising, and designing education and training programs and to avoid misrepresenting themselves or their work when performing these functions
Ethics
Sexual Relations With Students And Supervisees
psychologists do not engage in sexual relationships with students or supervisees who are in their department, agency, or training center or over whom psychologists have or are likely to have evaluative authority
