Week 2 Flashcards
(13 cards)
Definitions of ethics
Oxford Dictionary Definition of Ethics:
1.Moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity
2.The branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles
Professional ethical issues are closely linked to general professional issues
Top 10 areas of complaints
Top 10 areas of complaint:
- Clinical care
- Boundary violation
- Documentation
- Health impairment
- Communication
- Behaviour
- National Law Breach
- National Law Offence
- Other (Conflict of interest; discrimination; medico-legal conduct; research/teaching/assessment; response to adverse event; teamwork/supervision)
- Informed Consent
Most made by clients, relatives of other practitioners.
APS receives over 5000 requests for ethical assistance each year
Confidentiality, boundary issues, risk management, access to files
Over a 30-year career, about 20 out of every 100 psychologists can expect to be the subject of a complaint from the public and of these, two will receive a serious misconduct complaint.
Ethical principles:
What are some overarching ethical principles that psychologists should adhere to?
Autonomy – responsibility for one’s own behaviour, freedom of choice – the right to act as an autonomous agent = to make own’s own decisions and to develop one’s own values. Respecting rights for others to make autonomous decisions even when we believe they are mistaken. – as long as choice doesn not infiringe on the rights of others. Are they able to be autonomous (is someone with a mental health disorder competent to make decisions).
Non- malificience – not causing harm to others. Above all do no harm.
Beneficience – helping others.
Difficulties defining what is ethical
4things
Behaviour That Is Dishonest: When we lie, cheat or steal to achieve a personal or group goal, others view our behavior as unethical. Using this standard of ethics, it is the means used to achieve an outcome and not the outcome itself that determines whether the decision leading to the behavior is ethical or not. Falling into this category are making false representations, not meeting promised commitments, and misleading others
Compliance With Ethical Standards: Another important ethical standard is the use of codes, rules, guidelines and other systems that attempt to identify certain behaviors or means which are in themselves unethical. These culturally designed and promulgated codes of conduct or ethical systems generally provide lists of what things one should do and not do. They range from very general, such as theTen Commandments, to professionally or organizationally specific, like a legal code of ethics or a company code of conduct. Most of these rules are designed to create fairness and equity, respect for others, and systems of non-discrimination. They also function to balance power and protect the powerless.
Consistency With Personal And Social Values: Ethics is sometimes referred to as”the study of values and moral behavior”and “Ethical behavior is acting in ways consistent with one’s personal values and the commonly held values of the organization and society(Nelson and Quick, 2008, p, 107). In essence this means using personal and social variables as criteria in organizational decision making and behavioral choice decisions
Impact On Others
ETHICAL CONFLICTS
some of the sources for ethical conflicts are what?
We are fond of the term ethical or moral dilemmas to refer to intrapersonal conflicts involving our interests, values and various ethical codes.
Here is a partial list of some of the sources of ethical conflicts. These conflicts are sometimes discussed on the concept ofmoral-expediantconflict orwant versus shouldconflict (see Bazerman, Tenbrunsel & Wade-Benzoni, 1998).
Personal values and social values Self interests and benefit to others Personal values and organizational rules Ethical codes and benefit to others Honesty and benefit to others Personal values and social norms
Ethical concerns are central to the professional psychological practice because it involves:
Trust:
Clients seek help with the hope that their condition will improve and that they will not be harmed or exploited in the process
Power:
The trust bestowed is a source of power
Caring:
A responsiveness to the needs of the client in an emotionally charged context
Requirements for ethical practice
4 things
Engagement in a continual, active process of ethical awareness
Understanding of ethical codes and legal frameworks – necessary, but not sufficient for exercising ethical responsibility
Ability to see ethical implications in specific situations and choices
Ability to critically evaluate ethical dilemmas and identify options for resolution
APS Code of Ethics
Latest version was released in 2007.
Articulates and promotes ethical principles
Sets specific standards to guide both psychologists and members of the public
Outlines WHAT is considered ethical professional conduct by psychologists
Expresses psychologists’ responsibilities to:
- Clients
- Community and society
- Profession
- Colleagues and members of other professions with whom they interact
APS CODE
Minimum expectations!
MINIMUM expectations with regard to professional conduct
Standards are NOT exhaustive – general principles will apply when specific standards are not stated
Must be interpreted with reference to law
Must be interpreted with organisational rules and procedures
Complemented by Ethical Guidelines
- -Clarify and amplify the Code
- -Help with interpretation
- -To be read in conjunction with the Code
Mandatory Notifications Guidelines – notifiable conduct – Section 140 of national law
Practice while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
Sexual Misconduct in connection with the practice of the practitioner’s profession
Placing the public at risk of substantial harm because of an impairment
Placing the public at risk of harm because of practice that constitutes a significant departure from accepted professional standards
–Student impairment
National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce
“The Practice Standards are intended to complement discipline specific practice standards or competencies of each of the professional groups, and to address the shared knowledge and skills required when working in an interdisciplinary mental health environment” (page 4, 2013).
Applicable to Nursing, Occupational therapy, Psychiatry, Psychology and Social Work
Practice standards
13
- Rights, responsibilities, safety and privacy
- Working with people, families and carers in recovery-focussed ways
- Meeting diverse needs
- Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities
- Access
- Individual Planning
- Treatment and Support
- Transition in care
- Integration and Partnership
- Quality Improvement
- Communication and information management
- Health promotion and prevention
- Ethical practice and professional development responsibilities
Psychologists board of australia – Core capabilities for registration
Knowledge of the discipline
Ethical, legal and professional matters
Psychological assessment and measurement
Intervention strategies
Research and evaluation
Communication and interpersonal relationships
Working within a cross-cultural context
Practice across the lifespan
