This document outlines ethical standards for clinical psychologists. It discusses the importance of maintaining high professional ethics, which are held to a higher standard than the law. The document then reviews general ethical principles like beneficence, fidelity, integrity, justice, and respecting dignity. It provides guidance on resolving ethical issues, maintaining competence, human relations, privacy/confidentiality, record keeping/fees, assessment, and therapy. Clinical psychologists are expected to closely follow these ethical principles to behave responsibly and protect the public.

1. ETHICAL STANDARDSETHICAL STANDARDS
FOR CLINICALFOR CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGISTSPSYCHOLOGISTS
Lecture 9Lecture 9

2. IntroductionIntroduction
 Maintaining the highest professional ethicsMaintaining the highest professional ethics
 Higher standard than the lawHigher standard than the law
 High degree of responsibilityHigh degree of responsibility
 Professional contribution in every role (teacher,Professional contribution in every role (teacher,
researcher, clinician)researcher, clinician)
 Behaving in an appropriate, responsible, andBehaving in an appropriate, responsible, and
professional mannerprofessional manner

3. RATIONALE:RATIONALE:
 Questions regarding professional ethicsQuestions regarding professional ethics
 Clear & not-so-clear ethical violationsClear & not-so-clear ethical violations
 Ethical Code: Updated 9 times by APAEthical Code: Updated 9 times by APA
 Original document published : 1953Original document published : 1953
 This recent document published : 2003,This recent document published : 2003,
 by APA’s Council of Representativesby APA’s Council of Representatives

4. INTRODUCTION AND APPLICABILITYINTRODUCTION AND APPLICABILITY
 Applies only to professional roles & activities asApplies only to professional roles & activities as
psychologistspsychologists
 Covers wide areas & activities of allCovers wide areas & activities of all
psychologistspsychologists
 Applies across a variety of contextsApplies across a variety of contexts
 Aims at the welfare & protection of publicAims at the welfare & protection of public

5. GENERAL PRINCIPLESGENERAL PRINCIPLES
 Aspirational in natureAspirational in nature
 Only to guide & inspire psychologistsOnly to guide & inspire psychologists
 Do not represent obligationsDo not represent obligations

6. PRINCIPLEPRINCIPLE AA :: BENEFICENCE ANDBENEFICENCE AND
NON-MALEFICENCENON-MALEFICENCE
 Strive to benefit publicStrive to benefit public
 Seek to safeguard the welfare & rights of publicSeek to safeguard the welfare & rights of public

7. PRINCIPLE B: FIDELITY ANDPRINCIPLE B: FIDELITY AND
RESPONSIBILITYRESPONSIBILITY
 Establish relationships of trustEstablish relationships of trust
 Seek to manage conflictsSeek to manage conflicts

8. PRINCIPLE C: INTEGRITYPRINCIPLE C: INTEGRITY
 Seek to promote accuracy, honesty, andSeek to promote accuracy, honesty, and
truthfulnesstruthfulness
 Avoid unwise or unclear commitmentsAvoid unwise or unclear commitments

9. PRINCIPLE D: JUSTICEPRINCIPLE D: JUSTICE
 Fairness and justice in theFairness and justice in the processesprocesses,,
proceduresprocedures, and, and servicesservices
 Exercise reasonable judgmentExercise reasonable judgment

10. PRINCIPLE E: RESPECT FORPRINCIPLE E: RESPECT FOR
PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND DIGNITYPEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND DIGNITY
 Respect the rights, dignity and worth of allRespect the rights, dignity and worth of all
peoplepeople
 Respect cultural, individual, and roleRespect cultural, individual, and role
differencesdifferences
 Try to eliminate the effects of biases on theirTry to eliminate the effects of biases on their
workwork

11. ETHICAL STANDARDSETHICAL STANDARDS

12. 1. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES1. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES
1.01 Misuse of Psychologists' Work1.01 Misuse of Psychologists' Work
1.02 Conflicts Between Ethics and Law,1.02 Conflicts Between Ethics and Law,
Regulations, or Other Governing LegalRegulations, or Other Governing Legal
AuthorityAuthority
1.03 Conflicts Between Ethics and1.03 Conflicts Between Ethics and
Organizational DemandsOrganizational Demands
1.04 Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations1.04 Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations

13. 1. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES (cont.)1. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES (cont.)
1.05 Reporting Ethical Violations1.05 Reporting Ethical Violations
1.06 Cooperating With Ethics Committees1.06 Cooperating With Ethics Committees
1.07 Improper Complaints1.07 Improper Complaints

14. 2. COMPETENCE2. COMPETENCE
2.01 Boundaries of Competence2.01 Boundaries of Competence
(a)(a) provide services only within theprovide services only within the
boundaries of their competenceboundaries of their competence
(b)(b) Training must be obtained to ensureTraining must be obtained to ensure
competencecompetence
(c)(c) Appropriate referrals must be madeAppropriate referrals must be made

15. 2. COMPETENCE (cont.)2. COMPETENCE (cont.)
2.02 Providing Services in Emergencies2.02 Providing Services in Emergencies
2.03 Maintaining Competence2.03 Maintaining Competence
2.04 Bases for Scientific and Professional2.04 Bases for Scientific and Professional
JudgmentsJudgments
 2.05 Delegation of Work to Others2.05 Delegation of Work to Others
 2.06 Personal Problems and Conflicts2.06 Personal Problems and Conflicts

16. 3. HUMAN RELATIONS3. HUMAN RELATIONS
 3.01 Unfair Discrimination3.01 Unfair Discrimination
 3.02 Harassment3.02 Harassment
 3.03 Avoiding Harm3.03 Avoiding Harm

17. 3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)
 3.04 Multiple Relationships3.04 Multiple Relationships
 3.05 Conflict of Interest3.05 Conflict of Interest

18. 3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)
 3.06 Third-Party Requests for Services3.06 Third-Party Requests for Services
 3.07 Exploitative Relationships3.07 Exploitative Relationships
 3.08 Cooperation With Other Professionals3.08 Cooperation With Other Professionals

19. 3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)3. HUMAN RELATIONS (cont.)
3.09 Informed Consent3.09 Informed Consent
3.10 Psychological Services Delivered To or3.10 Psychological Services Delivered To or
Through OrganizationsThrough Organizations
3.11 Interruption of Psychological Services3.11 Interruption of Psychological Services

20. 4. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY4. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
 4.01 Maintaining Confidentiality4.01 Maintaining Confidentiality
 4.02 Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality4.02 Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality
 4.03 Recording4.03 Recording
 4.04 Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy4.04 Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy

21. 4. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY (cont.)4. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY (cont.)
 4.05 Disclosures4.05 Disclosures
 4.06 Consultations4.06 Consultations
 4.07 Use of Confidential Information for4.07 Use of Confidential Information for
Educational or Other PurposesEducational or Other Purposes

22. 5. RECORD KEEPING AND FEES5. RECORD KEEPING AND FEES
 5.01 Documentation of Professional and5.01 Documentation of Professional and
Scientific Work and Maintenance ofScientific Work and Maintenance of
RecordsRecords
 5.02 Maintenance, Dissemination, and5.02 Maintenance, Dissemination, and
Disposal ofDisposal of Confidential Records ofConfidential Records of
ProfessionalProfessional and Scientific Workand Scientific Work

23. 5. RECORD KEEPING AND FEES (cont.)5. RECORD KEEPING AND FEES (cont.)
5.03 Withholding Records for Nonpayment5.03 Withholding Records for Nonpayment
5.04 Fees and Financial Arrangements5.04 Fees and Financial Arrangements
5.05 Barter With Clients/Patients5.05 Barter With Clients/Patients
5.06 Accuracy in Reports to Payors and5.06 Accuracy in Reports to Payors and
Funding SourcesFunding Sources
5.07 Referrals and Fees5.07 Referrals and Fees

24. 6. ASSESSMENT6. ASSESSMENT
6.01 Bases for Assessments6.01 Bases for Assessments
(recommendations, reports, and diagnostic or(recommendations, reports, and diagnostic or
evaluative statements)evaluative statements)

25. 6. ASSESSMENT (cont.)6. ASSESSMENT (cont.)
6.02 Use of Assessments6.02 Use of Assessments
6.03 Informed Consent in Assessments6.03 Informed Consent in Assessments

26. 6. ASSESSMENT (cont.)6. ASSESSMENT (cont.)
6.04 Interpreting Assessment Results6.04 Interpreting Assessment Results
6.05 Assessment by Unqualified Persons6.05 Assessment by Unqualified Persons
6.06 Obsolete Tests and Outdated Test6.06 Obsolete Tests and Outdated Test
ResultsResults
6.07 Explaining Assessment Results6.07 Explaining Assessment Results

27. 7. THERAPY7. THERAPY
7.01 Informed Consent to Therapy7.01 Informed Consent to Therapy
7.02 Therapy Involving Couples or Families7.02 Therapy Involving Couples or Families
7.03 Group Therapy7.03 Group Therapy

28. 7. THERAPY (cont.)7. THERAPY (cont.)
7.04 Providing Therapy to Those Served by7.04 Providing Therapy to Those Served by
OthersOthers
7.05 Sexual Intimacies With Current Therapy7.05 Sexual Intimacies With Current Therapy
Clients/PatientsClients/Patients
7.06 Intimacies With Relatives or Significant7.06 Intimacies With Relatives or Significant
Others of Current Therapy Clients/PatientsOthers of Current Therapy Clients/Patients
7.07 Interruption of Therapy7.07 Interruption of Therapy

29. 7. THERAPY (cont.)7. THERAPY (cont.)
7.08 Terminating Therapy7.08 Terminating Therapy
When no longer neededWhen no longer needed
When threatened or otherwise endangeredWhen threatened or otherwise endangered
Provide pre-termination counselingProvide pre-termination counseling
Suggest alternative service providers asSuggest alternative service providers as
appropriateappropriate

30. ConclusionConclusion
Thus, clinical psychologists must closely andThus, clinical psychologists must closely and
carefully follow ethical principles to ensure thatcarefully follow ethical principles to ensure that
they behave in an appropriate, responsible, andthey behave in an appropriate, responsible, and
professional manner protecting the public as wellprofessional manner protecting the public as well
as the profession.as the profession.