Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

1 Ethical Principles of Psychologists and code of Conduct CONTENTS 4. Privacy and Confidentiality Informed Consent for Recording Maintaining Confidentiality Voices and Images in Research INTRODUCTION AND Discussing the Limits of Client/Patient, Student, and APPLICABILITY Confidentiality Subordinate Research Participants Recording Dispensing With Informed PREAMBLE Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy Consent for Research GENERAL Principles Disclosures Offering Inducements for Principle A: Beneficence and Consultations Research Participation Nonmaleficence Use of Confidential Information Deception in Research Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility for Didactic or Other Purposes Debriefing Principle C: Integrity 5. Advertising and Other Public Humane Care and Use of Animals Principle D: Justice Statements in Research Principle E: Respect for People's Rights Avoidance of False or Deceptive Reporting Research Results and Dignity Statements Plagiarism Ethical STANDARDS Statements by Others Publication Credit 1.

2 Resolving Ethical Issues Descriptions of Workshops and Duplicate Publication of Data Misuse of Psychologists ' Work Non-Degree-Granting Educational Sharing Research Data for Conflicts Between Ethics and Programs Verification Law, Regulations, or Other Media Presentations Reviewers Governing Legal Authority Testimonials Conflicts Between Ethics and In-Person Solicitation 9. Assessment Organizational Demands Bases for Assessments 6. Record Keeping and Fees Use of Assessments Informal Resolution of Ethical Documentation of Professional Violations Informed Consent in Assessments and Scientific Work and Release of Test Data Reporting Ethical Violations Maintenance of Records Cooperating With Ethics Test Construction Maintenance, Dissemination, and Interpreting Assessment Results Committees Disposal of Confidential Records Improper Complaints Assessment by Unqualified of Professional and Scientific Unfair Discrimination Against Work Persons Complainants and Respondents Withholding Records for Obsolete Tests and Outdated Test 2.

3 Competence Nonpayment Results Boundaries of Competence Fees and Financial Arrangements Test Scoring and Interpretation Providing Services in Emergencies Barter With Clients/Patients Services Maintaining Competence Accuracy in Reports to Payors and Explaining Assessment Results Bases for Scientific and Funding Sources Maintaining Test Security Professional Judgments Referrals and Fees Delegation of Work to Others 10. Therapy Personal Problems and Conflicts 7. Education and Training Informed Consent to Therapy Design of Education and Training Therapy Involving Couples or 3. Human Relations Programs Families Unfair Discrimination Descriptions of Education and Group Therapy Sexual Harassment Training Programs Providing Therapy to Those Other Harassment Accuracy in Teaching Served by Others Avoiding Harm Student Disclosure of Personal Sexual Intimacies With Current Multiple Relationships Information Therapy Clients/Patients Conflict of Interest Mandatory Individual or Group Third-Party Requests for Services Sexual Intimacies With Relatives Therapy or Significant Others of Current Exploitative Relationships Assessing Student and Supervisee Cooperation With Other Therapy Clients/Patients Performance Therapy With Former Sexual Professionals Sexual Relationships With Informed Consent Partners Students and Supervisees Psychological Services Delivered Sexual Intimacies With Former to or Through Organizations 8.

4 Research and Publication Therapy Clients/Patients Interruption of Psychological Institutional Approval Interruption of Therapy Services Informed Consent to Research Terminating Therapy 1060 December 2002 American Psychologist Copyright 2002 by the American Psychological Association, Inc. 0003-066X/02/$ Vol. 57, No. 12, 1060 1073 DOI: INTRODUCTION AND APPLICABILITY licensure. When the sanction to be imposed by APA is less than expulsion, the 2001 Rules and Procedures do not The American Psychological Association's (APA's) guarantee an opportunity for an in-person hearing, but Ethical Principles of Psychologists and code of Conduct generally provide that complaints will be resolved only on (hereinafter referred to as the Ethics code ) consists of an the basis of a submitted record. Introduction, a Preamble, five General Principles (A E), The Ethics code is intended to provide guidance for and specific Ethical Standards.

5 The Introduction discusses Psychologists and standards of professional Conduct that the intent, organization, procedural considerations, and can be applied by the APA and by other bodies that choose scope of application of the Ethics code . The Preamble and to adopt them. The Ethics code is not intended to be a basis General Principles are aspirational goals to guide psychol- of civil liability. Whether a psychologist has violated the ogists toward the highest ideals of psychology. Although Ethics code standards does not by itself determine whether the Preamble and General Principles are not themselves the psychologist is legally liable in a court action, whether enforceable rules, they should be considered by psycholo- a contract is enforceable, or whether other legal conse- gists in arriving at an Ethical course of action. The Ethical quences occur. Standards set forth enforceable rules for Conduct as psy- The modifiers used in some of the standards of this chologists.

6 Most of the Ethical Standards are written Ethics code ( , reasonably, appropriate, potentially) are broadly, in order to apply to Psychologists in varied roles, included in the standards when they would (1) allow pro- although the application of an Ethical Standard may vary fessional judgment on the part of Psychologists , (2) elim- depending on the context. The Ethical Standards are not inate injustice or inequality that would occur without the exhaustive. The fact that a given Conduct is not specifically modifier, (3) ensure applicability across the broad range of addressed by an Ethical Standard does not mean that it is activities conducted by Psychologists , or (4) guard against necessarily either Ethical or unethical. a set of rigid rules that might be quickly outdated. As used This Ethics code applies only to Psychologists ' in this Ethics code , the term reasonable means the pre- activities that are part of their scientific, educational, or vailing professional judgment of Psychologists engaged in professional roles as Psychologists .

7 Areas covered include similar activities in similar circumstances, given the knowl- but are not limited to the clinical, counseling, and school edge the psychologist had or should have had at the time. practice of psychology; research; teaching; supervision of trainees; public service; policy development; social inter- vention; development of assessment instruments; Conduct - This version of the APA Ethics code was adopted by the American ing assessments; educational counseling; organizational Psychological Association's Council of Representatives during its meet- ing, August 21, 2002, and is effective beginning June 1, 2003. Inquiries consulting; forensic activities; program design and evalu- concerning the substance or interpretation of the APA Ethics code should ation; and administration. This Ethics code applies to these be addressed to the Director, Office of Ethics, American Psychological activities across a variety of contexts, such as in person, Association, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242.

8 The postal, telephone, Internet, and other electronic transmis- Ethics code and information regarding the code can be found on the APA. sions. These activities shall be distinguished from the Web site, The standards in this Ethics code will be used to adjudicate complaints brought concerning alleged Conduct purely private Conduct of Psychologists , which is not occurring on or after the effective date. Complaints regarding Conduct within the purview of the Ethics code . occurring prior to the effective date will be adjudicated on the basis of the Membership in the APA commits members and version of the Ethics code that was in effect at the time the Conduct student affiliates to comply with the standards of the APA occurred. The APA has previously published its Ethics code as follows: Ethics code and to the rules and procedures used to enforce them. Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an Ethical American Psychological Association.

9 (1953). Ethical standards of psy- chologists. Washington, DC: Author. Standard is not itself a defense to a charge of unethical American Psychological Association. (1959). Ethical standards of psy- Conduct . chologists. American Psychologist, 14, 279 282. The procedures for filing, investigating, and resolv- American Psychological Association. (1963). Ethical standards of psy- ing complaints of unethical Conduct are described in the chologists. American Psychologist, 18, 56 60. American Psychological Association. (1968). Ethical standards of psy- current Rules and Procedures of the APA Ethics Commit- chologists. American Psychologist, 23, 357 361. tee. APA may impose sanctions on its members for viola- American Psychological Association. (1977, March). Ethical standards of tions of the standards of the Ethics code , including termi- Psychologists . APA Monitor, 22 23. nation of APA membership, and may notify other bodies American Psychological Association.

10 (1979). Ethical standards of psy- and individuals of its actions. Actions that violate the chologists. Washington, DC: Author. American Psychological Association. (1981). Ethical Principles of psy- standards of the Ethics code may also lead to the imposi- chologists. American Psychologist, 36, 633 638. tion of sanctions on Psychologists or students whether or American Psychological Association. (1990). Ethical Principles of psy- not they are APA members by bodies other than APA, chologists (Amended June 2, 1989). American Psychologist, 45, including state psychological associations, other profes- 390 395. American Psychological Association. (1992). Ethical Principles of psy- sional groups, psychology boards, other state or federal chologists and code of Conduct . American Psychologist, 47, agencies, and payors for health services. In addition, APA 1597 1611. may take action against a member after his or her convic- Request copies of the APA's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and tion of a felony, expulsion or suspension from an affiliated code of Conduct from the APA Order Department, 750 First Street, NE, state psychological association, or suspension or loss of Washington, DC 20002-4242, or phone (202) 336-5510.