Standards for Resolving Ethical Issues

Question 1

1.01 Misuse of Psychologists’ Work

Answer 1

• Take reasonable steps to correct or minimize the misuse or misrepresentation
• Can write letters to or speak with interested parties, request retraction of misrepresentation, or discuss with appropriate persons the corrective measures to be taken

Question 2

Reasonable steps

Answer 2

May not be in a position to ensure that their requests to correct misuse are followed

Question 3

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

Answer 3

• Clarify the nature of the conflict, make known their commitment to the Ethics Code and take reasonable steps to resolve the conflict consistent with the General Principles and Ethical Standards of the Ethics Code
• Under no circumstances may this standard be used to justify or defend violating human rights.

Question 4

When a Conflict Cannot Be Resolved

Answer 4

• Make a conscientious decision regarding whether to adhere to the Ethics Code or the legal or regulatory authority, except under circumstances that result in a violation of human rights
• Abiding by the law helps maintain the presence of psychologists in settings in which they can work to encourage and assist legal authorities develop alternative rules and procedures that will enable psychologists to fulfill their professional obligations as well as their obligations under the law

Question 5

1.03 Conflicts Between Ethics and Organizational Demands

Answer 5

• Clarify the nature of the conflict, make known their commitment to the Ethics Code, and take reasonable steps to resolve the conflict consistent with the Genera Principles and Ethical Standards of the Ethics Code
• Does not justify or defend violating human rights

Question 6

Commercially Funded Research

Answer 6

-Minimize risks
-Informing their IRB
-Terminating or modifying the study
Informing participants
-Sponsors may also attempt to prevent publication of data that jeopardize the marketability of their product or exert pressure on psychologists to falsify results
-Explain to the sponsor their ethical obligations under the Ethics Code

Question 7

1.04 Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations

Answer 7

• Could be adequately addressed through discussion with and subsequent remedial actions by the violating psychologist
• Discuss the violation with the offending psychologist to confirm whether misconduct has actually occurred
• Recommend corrective steps and ways to prevent future ethical violations
• HIPAA: Take reasonable steps to mitigate any harmful effects of unlawful disclosure of protected health information (PHI) by an employee or business associate of which they are aware
• Should not attempt an informal resolution if to do so would violate an individual’s confidentiality rights

Question 8

1.05 Reporting Ethical Violations

Answer 8

• Report ethical violations committed by another psychologist only if the violation has led to or has the potential to lead to substantial harm and informal resolution is unsuccessful or inappropriate.
• Prioritizes the protection of confidentiality over the duty to report an ethical violation

Question 9

Substantial harm

Answer 9

-Sexual misconduct, insurance fraud, plagiarism, and blatant intentional misrepresentation

Question 10

1.06 Cooperating with Ethics Committees

Answer 10

• Psychologists cooperate with APA and state-affiliated ethics investigations, proceedings, and resulting requirements.
• When a complaint is brought against a psychologist, the ability to respond in full to an ethics committee request for information may be limited by confidentiality responsibilities
• Permits to request that an APA or affiliated state psychological association ethics committee delay adjudication of a complaint pending the outcome of litigation related to the complaint
• If the ethics committee declines such a request, failure to cooperate will be considered a violation

Question 11

1.07 Improper Complaints

Answer 11

-Motivation of those making complaints

Question 12

1.08 Unfair Discrimination Against Complaints and Respondents

Answer 12

• Protects the rights of individuals to making ethical complaints without suffering unfair punitive actions from psychologists responsible for their employment, academic admission, or training
• Prohibiting unfair discrimination against those who make ethics complaints
• Prohibits psychologists from unfair discrimination of individuals who have been accused of, but not found to have committed, an ethical violation