APC - C Flashcards
General Principle C: Integrity
Psychologists recognise that their knowledge of the discipline of psychology, their professional standing, and the information they gather place them in a position of power and trust. They exercise their power appropriately and honour this position of trust. Psychologists keep faith with the nature and intentions of their professional relationships. Psychologists act with probity and honesty in their conduct.
Explanatory Statement
Psychologists recognise that their position of trust requires them to be honest and objective in their professional dealings. They are committed
to the best interests of their clients, the profession and their colleagues. Psychologists are aware of their own biases, limits to their objectivity, and the importance of maintaining proper boundaries with clients. They identify and avoid potential con icts of interest. They refrain from exploiting clients and associated parties.
C.1. Reputable behaviour
C.1.1. Psychologists avoid engaging in disreputable conduct that re ects on their ability to practise as a psychologist.
C.1.2. Psychologists avoid engaging in disreputable conduct that re ects negatively on the profession or discipline of psychology.
C.2. Communication
C.2.1. Psychologists communicate honestly in the context of their psychological work.
C.2.2. Psychologists take reasonable steps to correct any misrepresentation made by them or about them in their professional capacity within a reasonable time after becoming aware of the misrepresentation.
C.2.5. Psychologists take reasonable steps to correct any misconceptions held by a client about the psychologist’s professional competencies.
C.2. Communication - advertising
C.2.3. Statements made by psychologists in announcing or advertising the availability of psychological services, products, or publications, must not contain:
(a) any statement which is false, fraudulent, misleading or
deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive;
(b) testimonials or endorsements that are solicited in exchange for remuneration or have the potential to exploit clients;
(c) any statement claiming or implying superiority for the psychologist over any or all other psychologists;
(d) any statement intended or likely to create false or unjusti ed expectations of favourable results;
(e) any statement intended or likely to appeal to a client’s fears, anxieties or emotions concerning the possible results of failure to obtain the o ered services;
(f) any claim unjusti ably stating or implying that the psychologist uses exclusive or superior apparatus, methods or materials; and
(g) any statement which is vulgar, sensational or otherwise such as would bring, or tend to bring, the psychologist or the profession of psychology into disrepute.
C.2.4. When announcing or advertising the availability of psychological services or at any time when representing themselves as a psychologist, psychologists use accurate postnominals, including the postnominals used to represent their grade of membership with the Society.
C.2. Communication - advertising
what does the law say?
*Please note: Section 133 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (Qld) states that ‘a person must not advertise a regulated health service, or a business that provides a regulated health service, in a way that —
…
(c) uses testimonials or purported testimonials about the service or business; …
C.3. Conflict of interest
C.3.1. Psychologists refrain from engaging in multiple relationships that may:
(a) impair their competence, e ectiveness, objectivity, or ability to render a psychological service;
(b) harm clients or other parties to a psychological service; or
(c) lead to the exploitation of clients or other parties to a
psychological service.
C.3.2. Psychologists who are at risk of violating standard C.3.1., consult with a senior psychologist to attempt to nd an appropriate resolution that is in the best interests of the parties to the psychological service.
C.3.3. When entering into a multiple relationship is unavoidable due to over-riding ethical considerations, organisational requirements, or by law, psychologists at the outset of the professional relationship, and thereafter when it is reasonably necessary, adhere to the provisions of standard A.3. (Informed consent).
C.3.4. Psychologists declare to clients any vested interests they have in the psychological services they deliver, including all relevant funding, licensing and royalty interests.
C.4. Non-exploitation
C.4.1. Psychologists do not exploit people with whom they have or had a professional relationship.
C.4.2. Psychologists do not exploit their relationships with their assistants, employees, colleagues or supervisees.
C.4. Non-exploitation
Sex
C.4.3. Psychologists:
(a) do not engage in sexual activity with a client or anybody who
is closely related to one of their clients;
(b) do not engage in sexual activity with a former client, or
anybody who is closely related to one of their former clients, within two years after terminating the professional relationship with the former client;
(c) who wish to engage in sexual activity with former clients after a period of two years from the termination of the service,
rst explore with a senior psychologist the possibility that the former client may be vulnerable and at risk of exploitation, and encourage the former client to seek independent counselling on the matter; and
(d) do not accept as a client a person with whom they have engaged in sexual activity.
C.5. Authorship
C.5.1. Psychologists discuss authorship with research collaborators, research assistants and students as early as feasible and through the research and publication process as is necessary.
C.5.2. Psychologists assign authorship in a manner that re ects the work performed and that the contribution made is a fair re ection of the work people have actually performed or of what they have contributed.
C.5.3. Psychologists usually list the student as principal author on any multiple-authored article that is substantially based on the student’s dissertation or thesis.
C.5.4. Psychologists obtain the consent of people before identifying them as contributors to the published or presented material.
C.6. Financial arrangements
C.6.1. Psychologists are honest in their financial dealings.
C.6.2. Psychologists make proper nancial arrangements with clients and, where relevant, third party payers. They:
(a) make advance financial arrangements that safeguard the best interests of, and are clearly understood by, all parties to the psychological service; and
(b) avoid financial arrangements which may adversely influence the psychological services provided, whether at the time of provision of those services or subsequently.
C.6.3. Psychologists do not receive any remuneration, or give any remuneration for referring clients to, or accepting referrals from, other professionals for professional services.
C.7. Ethics investigations and concerns
C.7.1. Psychologists cooperate with ethics investigations and proceedings instituted by the Society as well as statutory bodies that are charged by legislation with the responsibility to investigate complaints against psychologists.
C.7.2. Psychologists who reasonably suspect that another psychologist is acting in a manner inconsistent with the ethical principles and standards presented in this Code:
(a) where appropriate, draw the attention of the psychologist
whose conduct is in question directly, or indirectly through a senior psychologist, to the actions that are thought to be in breach of the Code and cite the section of the Code which may have been breached;
(b) encourage people directly a ected by such behaviour to report the conduct to a relevant regulatory body or the Ethics Committee of the Society; or
(c) report the conduct to a relevant regulatory body or the Ethics Committee of the Society.
C.7.3. Psychologists do not lodge, or endorse the lodging, of trivial, vexatious or unsubstantiated ethical complaints against colleagues.
