__________________________________ Laws, Regulations, and Ethics for Florida Psychologists, 2nd Edition
including cultural, individual, and role differences. They strive to eliminate the effect of bias based on these factors in their work, and they do not knowingly participate in or accept the behavior of others based on prejudices. Healthcare Considerations Are you sensitive to biases and differences in opinion about diseases, vaccines, and treatment? Do you respect your client’s resistance to a psychotropic medication evaluation when it is culturally based? Update to the General Principles of the Ethics Code The APA Ethics Code Task Force (ECTF) is currently in the process of drafting an update to the Ethics Code. Their objec- tive is: “While retaining those aspects of our Ethics Code that serve the public and our discipline and profession well, the charge of the ECTF is to create a Code that is visionary and transformational and that remains a leading practical resource regarding ethics for psychological science, education, and practice” (APA, 2022). In 2021, APA began discussing comments received regard- ing eight draft principles that had been posted for a 90-day comment period beginning on July 15, 2020. Based on these comments, at the most recent meeting on May 19–20, 2022, the ECTF decided to divide the principle of Beneficence and Nonmaleficence in to two separate categories. The working titles of the revised foundational and aspirational Principles are: 1. Beneficence 2. Nonmaleficence 3. Human and Civil Rights 4. Integrity 5. Interrelatedness of People, Systems, and the Environment 6. Professionalism and Responsibility 7. Respect for the Welfare of Person and People 8. Scientific Mindedness 9. Social 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 that 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 sanctions on members for violating these rules and may notify other organizations of rule violations. Other
Healthcare Considerations Given the psychological and economic impact of COVID-19: Was there an increased need to provide pro bono services or volunteer your time? Were in-person or telehealth visits in the best interest of the client during COVID-19? Principle C: Integrity Psychologists promote honesty and accuracy in science, research, teaching, and practice. They do not cheat, engage in fraud, or intentionally misrepresent facts. They avoid unclear communications. In research, they do not manipulate or fabricate results to achieve a specific desired outcome. If decep- tion in research is ethically justifiable to maximize benefit and minimize harm, the psychologist is responsible for correcting any mistrust or harmful effects that arise. Healthcare Considerations A research study recruits college students as participants but fails to discuss generalizability in the results. Participants in a research study are actively discouraged from dropping out and verbally coerced into remaining in the study. What are the issues at play in this example? Principle D: Justice Psychologists have a responsibility to be fair, to be impartial, and to treat people equally. They recognize that all persons are equally entitled to resources, services, benefits, and opportu- nities. Hailes et al. (2021) provide a detailed description of essential elements of a social justice framework. The general principle of Justice states that psychologists must remain aware of their personal potential biases, boundaries of competence, and limitations of expertise and take precautions to ensure that these do not lead to unjust or unfair practices. Healthcare Considerations It is not uncommon to find issues of justice related to access to services. Psychologists serve as advocates for their clients to ensure fair access to treatment. Consider these examples: The client with depression that you have been seeing whose health insurance will not authorize more psychotherapy sessions The client with substance abuse who wants rehab but has no financial resources Principle E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity Psychologists respect the dignity, worth, privacy, and confiden- tiality of all persons. They are aware of and respect individual, cultural, and role differences and consider these when work- ing with clients. They are aware that special safeguards may be necessary to protect the rights of vulnerable persons. They are aware of issues of diversity when working with clients,
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