APA Ethics Flashcards
APA code of ethnics: two factors
General principles and enforceable
General principles
describes an ideal level of ethical functioning, or what to strive for
Enforceable
Ethical standards: includes rules of conduct that can mandate minimal levels of behavior and ca be specifically violated
Confidentiality
In general, psychologists are ethically obligated to maintain confidentiality- Jaffee vs. Redmond
Jaffee v. Redmond
doctor/patient relationship exists in therapist/social workers where
Exceptions to confidentiality
if the case involves: child abuse, elderly abuse, suicidal thoughts, duty to warn (Tarasoff)
Aspirational values
- Beneficence and nonmaleficence
- Fidelity and responsibility
- Integrity
- Justice
- Respect for people’s rights
Beneficence and nonmaleficence
strive to do no harm; to benefit someone
Fidelity
you need to establish trust with people whom you work with and holding professional conduct; upholding ethical boundary of confidentiality
Integrity
presenting our field in the most accurate way; inspires psychologists to strive to be honest and accurate in all the work that they do as psychologists?
Justice
treating everyone equally and fairly
Many behaviors fall in “gray area” in between:
i. Lots of difficult judgement calls
ii. Balancing out welfare of client/legal responsibility
iii. Competing ethical standards (e.g., confidentiality vs. client safety)
Disclosures: these are the only times you are permitted to break confidentiality
1) if you need professional service 2) obtain appropriate professional consultation 3)protect the client/patients from harm 4) or obtain payment for services
BEST COURSE OF ACTION
discuss limits EARLY
Confidentiality: children
1) often they are more open if assured parents wn’t find out 2) parents have the right to be informed 3) discuss what will be shared and not shared up front
Confidentiality:Forensic
1) no confidentiality 2) court/third party has access to all information 3) forensic warning
Confidentiality: Research
participants’ data must be secured and coded for confidentiality
Julea Ward from Paprocki
a. She is violating code of ethics b/c it bars discrimination based on sexual orientation
b. Whether she was in the right to request for a transfer- 1) boundaries of confidence- if you don’t have confidence in a demographic, then you can either get expertise, or transfer 2) was it discomfort, or incompetence? – but I think they are interrelated
c. Justice
Beneficence and Nonmaleficence was an aspirational principle cited frequently as relating to the vignette in the Paprocki article. All of the following ethical considerations were discussed in the article as related to this principle EXCEPT:
prereventing access to therapy for a client based on a demographic characteristic
What is a professional values statement as explained in the context of the Paprocki article?
One’s recognition and willingness to work with clients from diverse backgrounds who hold beliefs different from one’s own
Paprocki refers to a theoretical model that describes how trainees can approach their professional values and personal values. What is meant by an assimilation approach?
the trainee relies mostly on the values of the profession
Ethical Code Standard 2.01 advises professionals who are not competent to work with certain populations (or who do not seek appropriate training) to make an appropriate referral for their client (presumably to another clinician/agency). However, this standard appears to conflict with Standard 3.01, which states that psychologists should not do what?
discriminate against clients based on demographic characteristics
Which of the following is NOT part of the definition of what constitutes a “multiple relationship?”
a psychologist has a professional role with multiple people who work in the same setting (the multiple people work in the same setting, but they are not in the same work setting as the psychologist)
Multiple relationship
- a psychologist has a relationship (professional or non-professional) with a person closely related to one of the psychologist’s clients
- the psychologist is currently in a professional role with someone and plans to enter into another relationship with that individual in the future
- a psychologist shares a professional role and another role with an individual
Which of the following is not typically included in the informed consent process for research?
Relevant and anticipated fees for participating in the research
What is included in the informed consent process for research?
Predictable risks of the research
Incentives for participating in the research
Purpose of the research
procedures, and length of time it may require;
any predictable risks or adverse effects;
right to decline or withdraw from participation.
If the study is an investigation of a treatment method, psychologists should also inform clients that the treatment is experimental in nature, that some clients may be assigned to groups that receive no treatment (control groups), and of available alternative treatments outside the scope of the current study.
What makes a multiple relationship unethical?
the psychologist is unable to remain objective due to the multiple relationship
Cultural competence
the counselor’s acquisition of awareness, knowledge and skills needed to function effectively in a pluralistic democratic society
Cultural self-awareness
an appreciation of the clinical psychologists’ own unique cultural viewpoint; that comes to understand his or her viewpointis unique and idiosyncratic- several conclusion are within reach
Separation
in which the individual rejects much of the new culture and retains much of the original
Integration
in which the individual adopts much of the new culture and retains much of the original
Respect for People’s Rights
“Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination.”
Duty to warn
since the Tarasoff case set the legal precedent, clinical psychologists (and other therapists) have understood that there are limits to their confidentiality agreements with clients and that they have a duty to warn people toward whom their clients make credible, serious threats.
Informed Consent Process in Assessment
psychologists should offer information about the nature and purpose of the assessment; any relevant fees; the involvement of other parties, if any; and limits of confidentiality (e.g., duty-to-warn or child abuse situations).
Informed Consent Process in Therapy
psychologists inform clients/patients as early as is feasible in the therapeutic relationship about the nature and anticipated course of therapy, fees, involvement of third parties, and limits of confidentiality and provide sufficient opportunity for the client/patient to ask questions and receive answers.
it is an on-going process; rather than one-time thing
Regarding competence, psychologists should
(1) ensure that their professional activities match their training and expertise, (2) make efforts to avoid any negative impact of burnout or personal problems on their work, and (3) attain cultural competence for a diverse range of clients.
