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. Confidential information may be disclosed without consent only as mandated by law or where permitted by law to provide needed professional services; obtain professional consultation; protect the patient, psychologist, or others from harm; or obtain payment for services. Under all circumstances only the minimum information necessary should be disclosed. 5. Advertising and other public statements : Rules 5.01– 5.06 define what constitutes public statements and rules related to media presentations and educational programs. Psychologists do not solicit testimonials from current clients or solicit business from actual or potential clients. 6. Record keeping and fees : Rules 6.01–6.07 discuss the control, dissemination, and disposal of confidential records, and that records may not be withheld due to nonpayment if they are needed for emergency treatment. Financial arrangements must be consistent with the law; fees must not be misrepresented; anticipated limitations in financing for services must be addressed; and if a collection agency might be used, the client must be notified first and be given the opportunity to make prompt payment. Bartering may be used only if not clinically contraindicated or exploitive. Reports to payors must be accurate. When fees are divided with another professional other than in an employer– employee relationship, the division must be based on services provided and not the referral itself. 7. Education and training —Rules 7.01–7.07 cover the design and content of education and training programs. Limits and boundaries for requiring students to disclose personal information are discussed. If individual or group therapy is mandatory, the student must be allowed to receive services from a provider outside of the program. Assessment of student/trainee performance must be timely and specific, and sexual relationships with students are prohibited. 8. Research and publication : Rules 8.01–8.15 discuss obtaining informed consent in research and when it may not be required, use of inducements for research participation, boundaries on the use of deception, debriefing, humane use of animals in research, reporting results that are not fabricated or deceptive, avoiding plagiarism, accuracy in publication credit, and need to share data for verification. 9. Assessment : Rules 9.01–9.11 cover the use of assessments. Psychologists use assessment procedures that are appropriate for the situation, and they base opinions on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate the opinions. They use assessment instruments whose validity and reliability have been established for use with the population being tested and if these are not available, then the strengths and limitations of test results are described. They obtain informed consent for assessment except if testing is mandated by law, testing is implied as part of routine educational or organizational activity, or the purpose is to evaluate decisional capacity. Informed consent must include information about the purpose of the assessment, fees, any third-party involvement, and limits
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Book Code: PYCA2724
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