Module 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Ethics is a branch of philosophy focused on what?

A

Moral problems and moral judgements

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2
Q

We assign judgements about decision and actions according to what?

A

Moral principles and ethical guidelines. Can be explicit such as ethics code, or implicit such as own perspective based from experience

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3
Q

What does Dr Tony Love argue that a good practitioner needs to be?

A

Ethically informed + evidence-based

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4
Q

What does Francis (2009) argue regarding the use of intuition in ethical decision-making in psychology?

A

It is to be mistrusted without other bases of judgement.

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5
Q

What can you experience when confronted by ethical challenges? (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008)

A
Confusion
Pressure
Frustrations
Anxiety
Conflicting loyalties
Insufficient Information
The tendency to rationalise
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6
Q

What are ethical violations commonly driven by? (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008)

A

Prejudices, rationalisations and insufficient training and experience

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7
Q

What is reflective practice? (Developed by Donald Schon)

A

Talk less, think more, and think aloud

Stop and think about your practice, analyse your decision making, draw on theories, and relate it to what you do in practice.

This refocuses your thinking on your existing knowledge, and helps generate new ideas, and new knowledge.

Schon suggested that the capacity to reflect on action -> continuous learning.

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8
Q

What is ‘reflection in action’?

A

Think on their feet.
When faced with issue, practitioner connects with feelings, emotions, and prior experiences to attend to the situation directly.

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9
Q

What is ‘reflection on action’?

A

After experience, practitioner analyses reaction to situation, and explores reasons around consequences.

It brings into action notions of responding to problematic situations, problem framing, problem solving and the priority of practical knowledge over abstract theory.

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10
Q

What is the difference between laws and ethics

A

Laws = rules that govern permissible behaviour, enforcable by authority.

Ethics = moral stands of behaviour

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11
Q

What is the difference btw ethics and morals?

A

Morals = imply a general and unwritten frame of reference

Ethics = often refers to a codified set of values or principles that guide conduct of specific subsets of people

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12
Q

List the 5 ways Allen (2015) explains that ethics, law and morals intersect in the work of psychs

A
  1. Psychologists directly / indirectly participate in the administration of law - this can raise moral and ethical issues because they have impact of ppl and their welfare
  2. Psych may experience moral / ethical issues due to the people they provide services ie criminals
  3. Psychs may be empoyees of organisations that have their own internal rules that psychs may not feel are ethical or moral
  4. Psychs must work collaboratively with range of professions whose social roles differ from their own and whose professional ethics may also differ
  5. Law sets minimum behavioral requirements and generally less aspirational than professional ethics
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13
Q

What is the diff btw laws and ethics

A

Laws = minimum standard society can tolerate - enforced by government

Ethics = maximum or ideal standards set by profession - enforced by professional bodies

Morality = ones perspective of whats right and proper conduct - can be governed by culture, religion or family

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14
Q

When can issues arise for psychs?

A

When decisions are governed by morality. Then there are conflicts btw ethical behaviour and your own morality.

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15
Q

What does the APS provide to assist members with specific ethical-legal dilemmas that require careful, objective consideration?

A

Professional Advisor Service

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16
Q

If conflict arises btw law and an enforceable standard of the Ethics Code what does Standard 1.02 stipulate?

A

Psych must make known their commitment to the Ethics Code and take steps to resolve conflict.

If conflict is unresolvable, psych may adhere to law.

This guidance is not sufficient in many cases and ethical decision making is seldom that simple (Knapp)

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17
Q

Knapp - use of personal values?

A

Can be of assistance - if proper decision making process employed

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18
Q

What is Knapp’s decision making process?

A
  1. Understand what the law requires of you (is there actually a conflict btw law / ethics)
  2. Understand ethical obligations correctly
  3. Seek creative wats to satisfy both legal and ethical obligations
  4. Either obey law and try to minimise harm to ethical values or adhere to ethical values and try to minimise violation of the law
  5. Anticipate potential conflicts btw law and ethics and take proactive measures. Emphasising informed consent often helps circumvent or reduce law-ethics conflicts.
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19
Q

What does nonmaleficence mean?

A

Non harming or inflicting the least harm possible to reach a beneficial outcome

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20
Q

What should psychs do when considering disobeying a law? (Knapp)

A
  1. Seek consultation to ensure law requires them to do what they believe it requires
  2. Understand their ethical obligations clearly
  3. Consider alternatives that would allow them to follow law while upholding values
  4. Contemplate violating a law only if no viable alternative is available
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21
Q

Who oversees the training of psychologists?

A
  1. Australian Psychological Society (APS)
  2. Heads of Departments and Schools of the Psychology Association (HODSPA)
  3. Australian psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)
  4. Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA)
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22
Q

What is the Academic Pathway to Psych for registration with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)?

A

Bachelor -> Honours -> PhD with Masters (research) embedded)

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23
Q

What is the Generalist Practitioner Pathway to Psych for registration with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)?

A

Bachelor -> Honours -> Internship (2 years) (or 4+2)

OR

Bachelor -> Honours -> Grad Dip -> Internship (1 year) (ie 5+1)

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24
Q

What is the Specialist Pathway to Psych for registration as a psychologist with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)

A

Bachelor -> Honours -> Masters

OR

Bachelor -> Honours -> DPsych

OR

Bachelor -> Honours -> PhD with Masters embedded

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25
Q

What is AHPRA?

A

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

AHPRA is a regulatory body, meaning it exists in and under law to govern the registration of health professionals.

It operates under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 of each state.

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26
Q

How many health professions are regulated by AHPRA?

A

14

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27
Q

What is the primary role of the National Boards?

A

Protect the public and set standards and policies that all registered health practitioners must meet.

Each board has entered into a health profession agreement with AHPRA which sets out the fees payable by health practitioners, the annual budget of the Board and the services provided by AHPRA.

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28
Q

What are the functions of PsyBA?

A
  1. Registering psychs and provisional psychs
  2. Developing standards, codes and guidelines for the psych profession
  3. Handling notifications, complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings
  4. Assessing overseas trained practitioners who wish to practise in Australia
  5. Approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study
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29
Q

Which bodies seem to have overlap with reference to the Code of Ethics?

A

PsyBA, APS and AHPRA

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30
Q

Who do you need to be fully registered with to legally practice and use the title of ‘psych’?

A

PsyBA / AHPRA

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31
Q

What do you need to be registered with PsyBA / AHPRA?

A

Relevant qualifications / experience, indemnity insurance and engage in regular continuing professional development (CPD)

32
Q

What is the main difference btw APS and AHPRA / PsyBA?

A

PsyBA / AHPRA are regulatory bodies primarily concerned with the lawful training, registration, and practice of psychology

The APS is a professional body and membership is optional.

Most importantly, ut is the APS who publishes the Code of Ethics that PsyBA / AHPRA uphold for registered psychologists.

33
Q

Which standard / legislation is particularly pertinent to the work of psychs and other mental health professionals?

A

The National Standards of Mental Health Services (NSMHS; 2010) which forms part of the Australian Government’s National Mental Health Strategy.

Focuses on the rights and responsibilities for consumers, carers and organisations delivering mental health services

34
Q

Littlefield: what needs to be considered in a discussion of reform to the psychology pathways?

A
  1. Funding of the higher education system.
  2. Confusion in the community around the knowledge and skills of different types of psychologists with different areas of practice endorsement.
35
Q

Littlefield: What are some of the challenges with the 4+2 pathway?

A
  • Difficulty in providing all professional requirements in the two-year internship, including the competencies across the lifespan
  • Difficulty in achieving the increased hours of psychological practice
  • Unrealistic burdens on employers, including onerous documentation and reporting requirements
  • Challenges in meeting the supervisory requirements
  • Increased professional development requirements.
36
Q

What does AoPE stand for?

A

Area of Practice Endorsement

37
Q

Littlefield: What does the DPsych program require?

A

Additional specialised coursework and practicum compared to the MPsych (1500 as compared to 1000 hours practicum) as well as a significantly larger thesis, equivalent to two years of full-time research work.

Grads with DPsychs are required to complete a 1-yr registrar program for AoPE whereas grads of MPsych/DPsych programs have to complete an 18 month registrar program to obtain AoPE.

38
Q

Littlefield: What does the combined MPsych / PhD programs entail?

A

Typically same coursework and practicum as the professional Masters courses but require research equivalent to a 3-year ful time PhD thesis.

Grads with DPsychs are required to complete a 1-yr registrar program for AoPE whereas grads of MPsych/DPsych programs have to complete an 18 month registrar program to obtain AoPE.

39
Q

Littlefield: What are the current issues in education and training pathways for psych practitioners?

A
  • Growing gap in supply and demand of psychs in Aus. Likely to increase.
  • Funding and regulatory challenges
  • High undergrad enrolments -> increased demand on Department / Schools of Psych
  • Bottleneck btw undergrad and professional post-grad training programs
  • Challenges in obtaining external placements -> need for limits on intake to professional courses
  • Gov funding not covering the real costs to Departments / Schools of Psych of running programs, requiring high undergrad enrolments to subsidise postgrad professional programs or offering programs at financial loss
  • Non-sustainable 4+2 pathway
40
Q

Littlefield: What does the EuroPsy consist of?

A

3+2+1

3 yr bachelor
2 yr masters
1 yr supervised prac

41
Q

Littlefield: What are some advantages of introducing the EuroPsy model?

A
  • Decreased duration of higher education provider-based training (reduced costs)
  • One thesis instead of two
  • Supervised prac placements outside of uni management
  • more students in higher education pathways
  • higher quality of training for generalist psychs
  • alignment with international standards -> better professional recognition and mobility
  • greater access to pathways to AoPE
  • bridging programs btw AoPEs
42
Q

What is the purpose of the Code of Ethics?

A
  • Educating people about the responsibilities of the profession
  • provide a basis for accountability
  • protecting clients, the public and the profession for unethical practices
  • providing a basis for reflection and improvement of one’s professional practice
43
Q

What are the two aspects a code of ethics usually involves?

A

Enforceable aspects (specific ethical rules such as confidentiality of client records)

Aspirational Aspects (general principles that guide behaviour and inspire psychologists toward the highest ethical standards, such as propriety

44
Q

What year was the most recent Code of Ethics

A

2007

45
Q

What year did PsyBA decide to initially adopt the APS Code of Ethics (2007)?

A

2010

46
Q

Allen: according to the National Act, what is the primary objective of the boards?

A

To provide protection to the public by ensuring that only practitioners who are suitably trained and qualified to practice in a competent and ethical manner are registered to do so.

47
Q

Allen: what is a code of practice?

A

A document that tells psychs what to do by stipulating the minimum behavioural standards they need to adhere to.

Most professional codes are hybrids and provide both inspirational ethical statements and minimum behavioural standards of conduct.

48
Q

Allen: What are the functions of codes?

A

Used by registrants as a guide to self-regulation and the PsyBA to regulate registrants

  • used to educate psychs of ethical principles and standards taking into account cultural, legal, political and social expectations
  • provide support to psychs when they feel coerced to do something unethical
  • unify members and shape image of profession
  • publicly state ethical principles
49
Q

When was the code first published?

A

1949

50
Q

How many times has the code been reviewed since 1949

A

5

Most recently in 2007

51
Q

How many accompanying guidelines have been published and what is their purpose?

A

26

Facilitate the interpretation of the Code in everyday practice by clarifying and amplifying the principles and minimum behavioural standards contained in it.

52
Q

What are the 8 common ethical principles Allen discovered?

A
  • Respect for dignity and rights of people,
  • autonomy
  • justice
  • nonmaleficence
  • beneficience
  • veracity (conformity to facts)
  • fidelity
  • responsibility
53
Q

Is the code written in a descriptive or a prescriptive way? give an example

A

Descriptive

ie psychologists safeguard the confidentiality
of information rather than psychologists must safeguard the confidentiality of information

54
Q

What are the options available to PsyBA with regards to adopting the code

A
  • No code
  • A metacode
  • Adopt and follow an existing code other than that of the APS
  • Use the APS and monitor its future development
  • A unique code for the PsyBA
  • A code of Practice or Conduct
  • A Joint Code of the PsyBA and another body
55
Q

What is the main issue with PsyBA using the APS Code of Ethics?

A

Lack of public accessibility to the Guidelines which form an integral part of the Code

56
Q

What are the three general principles that the Code is structured around?

A

A. Respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples

B. Propriety

C. Integrity

57
Q

Explain what is meant by the general principle ‘respect for the rights of people and peoples’

A

Psychs regard people as intrinsically valuable and respect their rights, including the right to autonomy and justice. Psychs engage in conduct which promotes equity and the protection of people’s human rights, legal rights and moral rights. They respect the dignity of all people and peoples.

58
Q

Explain what is meant by the general principle ‘propriety’

A

Psychs ensure they are competent, deliver services to benefit rather than harm. Seek to protect the interests of the people they work with. Welfare of clients and public and upstanding profession take precedence over a psychs self-interest

59
Q

Explain what is meant by the general principle ‘integrity’

A

Recognise that knowledge, professional standing and info gathered place psychs in a position of power and trust. Psychs exercise power appropriately and honour this position of trust. Act with honesty.

60
Q

What are the ethical standards that fall under ‘respect’

A
Justice
Respect
Informed consent
Privacy
Confidentiality
Release of info
Collection of client info from associated parties
61
Q

What are some of the ethical standards that fall under Propriety?

A
Competence
Record Keeping
Responsibility
psych assessments
Research
Working with third parties
62
Q

What are some of the ethical standards that fall under Integrity?

A
Reputable behaviour
Communication
Conflict of Interest
Non-exploitation
Authorship
Financial Arrangements
Ethics Investigations and Concerns
63
Q

Should the Code and related guidelines be used as a rigid set of rules?

A

No - they are tools to help members navigate and resolve challenging dilemmas.

it does however include enforceable aspects.

64
Q

Who enforces the Code?

A

AHPRA / PsyBA operating under AHPRA regulations

65
Q

What are the 3 categories regarding the decision the board can make in assessing a notification?

A
  1. Enough information to take no further action
  2. Enough info to take action now -> caution -> accept undertaking -> impose conditions ->refer to another entitiy ->immediate action -> panel hearing -> tribunal hearing
  3. Seek more info -> investigation ->health assessment -> performance assessment
66
Q

What is a dual relationship?

A

Occurs when a therapist has a second, significantly different relationship with their client in addition to the traditional client-therapist one.

67
Q

What were the most frequently reported complaints from the public ?

A
  • Poor communication (35.5%)
  • Professional incompetency (16.5%)
  • Poor report writing (14.1%)
  • Poor business practices (12.5%)
  • Boundary violations (9.7%)
  • Poor character(5.6%)
  • Registration status (3.2%)
  • Impairment (1.6%)
  • Inappropriate use (1.2%) of specialist titles

Males 2.5 times more likely to be reported than females

Senior highly qualified psychs got more complaints (but less serious in nature)

68
Q

Over a 30 year career, what percentage of psychs can expect to receive a complaint?

A

20%

2% will be serious

69
Q

Love: Is the code meant to be educative or punative?

A

Educative

Rather than focusing solely on punishments (e.g., reprimands, fines, and limitation, restriction, suspension or cancellation of registration), Boards recommend further education. Often ethics-focused education, supervision, and/or counselling with a senior psychologist to enhance knowledge and skills in reflective practice.

70
Q

Positive ethics?

A

Education over punishment

Stems from positive psychology

Goal is to shift the exclusive focus of professional ethics away from obeying rules to avoid disciplinary action, to thinking about the ethical standards to which one can intrinsically aspire to achieve.

Rather than following external regulations, individuals are encouraged to integrate personal values, to focus on questions of what is ‘right’, and to take ownership of ethical practice

71
Q

Knapp: what is the ethical floor approach?

A

when the motivation for ethical behaviour comes from a fear of being disciplined or sued for malpractice.

Includes actions that focus on minimal obligations.

72
Q

Knapp: advantages of positive ethics?

A
  1. Psychs who adopt positive approach may be more sensitive to the ethical issues encountered everyday.
    - > more likely to consider the potential ethical dimensions of all actions, even if the likelihood of being disciplined is nonexistent
  2. Higher standard of conduct -> motivate psychs to proive the highest-quality services
  3. More motivated to follow spirit and letter of Ethics Code cos it reflects their own personal values -> less likely to violate the Code.
73
Q

How to avoid complaints and embody aspirational ethical conduct

A
  • Be fair financially
  • Stick only to evidence in forensics
  • Use respected ethical decision making model and document decisions
  • Document!
  • Practice only what you are skilled to practice
  • Engage in regular supervision
  • Constantly update skills and knowledge
  • Read determinations of Ethics Boards
  • Subscribe to ethics-focused journals
  • Balance work with self-care
74
Q

Koocher: what are elements of good practice that reduce risks?

A
  • avoid sex / dual relationships
  • avoid role changes without documented consent
  • keep careful notes including billing
  • Document diagnoses, risk behaviours, actions
  • Regularly review client treatment plan
  • Consult re: difficult clients and document
  • Conduct therapy in professional setting (office)
  • Practice withing competence
75
Q

What does Koocher recommend about risk management?

A

We recommend maintaining an awareness of client risks, but balancing these concerns with one’s own competence and training when making decisions about accepting a client. Such deliberate ethical mindfulness provides the best protection

76
Q

What are the essential virtues for psychs? (Kitchener & Anderson)

A
  • Practical wisdom or prudence (solid reasoning)
  • Integrity (uphold standards even when not popular or difficult)
  • Respectfulness
  • Trustworthiness
  • Care / compassion