Once this is complete, the comprehensive document will be reviewed and placed out for public comment, and then final revisions will be made. Self-Assessment Quiz Question #3 Which ethical principle covers the ideals of impartiality, equality, and fairness? a. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence. b. Fidelity and Responsibility. c. Integrity. d. Justice.
ETHICAL STANDARDS AND THE CODE OF CONDUCT
The Ethical Standards section of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct provides specific rules for the professional conduct of psychologists and are enforceable. Membership in APA is an agreement to comply with these rules as well as the procedures used to enforce them. APA may impose sections on members for violation of these rules and may notify other organizations of rule violations. Other organizations that may be notified include state licensing boards, diplomate certifying agencies, and payors of health care services. Violation of the rules may incur penalties from these other agencies if they chose to do so, regardless of whether the psychologist is a member of APA. The Ethical Standards section is divided into 10 standards. Each standard has subsections detailing specific rules. These rules are designed to be a guide to the expectations for the ethical practice of psychology, and psychologists are strongly encouraged to review these standards and rules in their entirety. The rationale for that recommendation is two-fold, as a lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an ethical standard or rule is not a defense against a licensing board complaint, and also because these standards are subject to change as the APA’s Ethics Code Task Force (ECTF) meets at least monthly to continuously update the rules within each standard section. The following are the 10 broad standards and their rules: 1. Resolving ethical issues : Rules 1.01–1.08 address responsibilities when dealing with conflicts between ethics, law, regulations, and organizations. Steps to take for informal resolution of potential violations by another psychologist, how to report violations, and the need to cooperate with ethics committee investigations are outlined. If a psychologist believes that there has been an ethical violation by another psychologist, they attempt to resolve the issue by directly addressing it with the psychologist if informal resolution is appropriate and the intervention does not violate confidentiality rights. If the violation involves harm or potential harm or is not resolved properly by informal resolution, then further action is necessary and may include referral to state or national professional ethics committees or state licensing boards. The reporting standard does not apply if the intervention would violate confidentiality rights or when a psychologist has been retained to review the work of another psychologist whose professional conduct is in question. Psychologists cooperate in ethics investigations and proceedings, and failure to cooperate is in itself an ethics violation. 2. Competence : Rules 2.01–2.06 discuss working within the boundaries of competence based on education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience; providing services in emergency situations and the need to discontinue when the emergency ends or appropriate services can be arranged; maintaining competence; delegating work
only to others that are competent and do not have a multiple relationship with those being served; and staying aware of personal conflicts that may impact professional work. If a psychologist becomes aware that personal problems may interfere with their work duties they take appropriate steps such as obtaining consultation and determine if they should limit, suspend, or terminate their work-related duties. 3. Human relations : Rules 3.01–3.12 detail multiple rules for psychologists in their daily practice with others. Psychologist do not engage in unfair discrimination based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status. They do not engage in harassment or sexual harassment, which is defined as physical, verbal, or nonverbal conduct that is sexual in nature, occurs in the context of the psychologist’s professional role, and is either unwelcome or offensive and the psychologist is told this or it is sufficiently severe to be abusive. They take all reasonable steps to avoid doing harm and minimize harm when it is unavoidable. They do not engage in a multiple relationship if it could impair their objectivity and effectiveness or if it risks exploitation or harm to the client. They avoid conflicts of interest in professional roles that could be expected to impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing their professional role or if it exposes the client or organization to harm or exploitation. When there are third-party requests for services, they clarify the limits of confidentiality and roles related to who the client is. They do not exploit persons over whom they have some authority. They obtain and document informed consent from the service user via language that is reasonably understandable except when the proposed activity is mandated by law or governmental regulation. If the service user is legally incapable of providing consent, they still provide an explanation of the procedure and seek the individual’s consent. They provide information about services when they are provided through an organization, including clarifying who the client is, who has access to information, and limits of confidentiality. They make plans for handling interruptions in service in the event of the psychologist’s illness, death, unavailability, relocation, or retirement. 4. Privacy and confidentiality : Rules 4.01–4.07 state that psychologists have a primary obligation to protect confidential information. They address confidentiality and its limits with clients at the onset of service, they protect confidential information obtained through any medium, they obtain permission before recording individuals, they limit disclosure of confidential information to the minimum needed, and they maintain client confidentiality when consulting with others. This rule also addresses when confidential information can be disclosed with and without client consent.
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