APS - A Flashcards
What is the APS ?
The APS is the largest professional association for psychologists in Australia
• Aims to support the interests of psychologists and the practice of psychology
• APSMissionStatement:
– To represent, promote and advance psychology
– within the context of improving community wellbeing and scientific knowledge
Difference between the APS and the Psychology Board of Australia
– The PsyBA is a body established by an Act of Parliament
– The APS is a professional organisation established by a group of people trained in psychology
– The PsyBA determines who can call themselves a ‘psychologist’
What are is APS code of ethics?
The Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics articulates and promotes ethical principles, and sets speci c standards to guide both psychologists and members of the public to a clear understanding and expectation of what is considered ethical professional conduct
by psychologists.
The Code expresses psychologists’ responsibilities to their clients, to the community and society at large, and to the profession, as well as colleagues and members of other professions with whom they interact.
The Code is built on three general ethical principles. They are:
A. Respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples
B. Propriety
C. Integrity.
The general principle, Respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples, combines the principles of respect for the dignity and respect for the rights of people and peoples, including the right to autonomy and justice.
The general principle, Propriety, incorporates the principles of bene cence, non-male cence (including competence) and responsibility to clients, the profession and society.
The general principle, Integrity, re ects the need for psychologists to have good character and acknowledges the high level of trust intrinsic to their professional relationships, and impact of their conduct on the reputation of the profession.
The Code and the LAW?
Psychologists respect and act in accordance with the laws of the jurisdictions in which they practise. he Code should be interpreted with reference to these laws. The Code should also be interpreted with reference to, but not necessarily in deference to, any organisational rules and procedures to which psychologists may be subject.
Definitions* Associated party
means any person or organisation other than clients with whom psychologists interact in the course of rendering a psychological service. This includes, but is not limited to:
(a) clients’ relatives, friends, employees, employers, carers and guardians;
(b) other professionals or experts;
(c) representatives from communities or organisations.
Definitions* Client
means a party or parties to a psychological service involving teaching, supervision, research, or professional practice in psychology. Clients may be individuals, couples, dyads, families, groups of people, organisations, communities, facilitators, sponsors, or those commissioning or paying for the professional activity
Definitions* Conduct
means any act or omission by psychologists:
(a) that others may reasonably consider to be a psychological service;
(b) outside their practice of psychology which casts doubt on their
competence and ability to practise as psychologists;
(c) outside their practice of psychology which harms public trust in the discipline or the profession of psychology;
(d) in their capacity as Members of the Society; as applicable in the circumstances.
Definitions* Guidelines
mean the Ethical Guidelines adopted by the Board of Directors of the Society from time to time that clarify and amplify the application of the Code of Ethics. The Guidelines are subsidiary to the Code, and must be read and interpreted in conjunction with the Code. In the case of any apparent inconsistency between the Code and the Guidelines, provisions of the Code prevail. A psychologist acting inconsistently with the Guidelines may be required to demonstrate that his or her conduct was not unethical.
Definitions* Multiple relationships
Occur when a psychologist, rendering a psychological service to a client, also is or has been:
(a) in a non-professional relationship with the same client;
(b) in a different professional relationship with the same client;
(c) in a non-professional relationship with an associated party;
or (d) a recipient of a service provided by the same client.
Definitions* Professional relationship or role
is the relationship between a psychologist and a client which involves the delivery of a psychological service.
Definitions* Psychological service
means any service provided by a psychologist to a client including but not limited to professional activities, psychological activities, professional practice, teaching, supervision, research practice, professional services, and psychological procedures.
Definitions*
Jurisdiction
Legal rights
& Reminder of Legislative requirements
Jurisdiction means the Commonwealth of Australia or the state or territory in which a psychologist is rendering a psychological service.
Legal rights mean those rights protected under laws and statutes of the Commonwealth of Australia, or of the state or territory in which a psychologist is rendering a psychological service.
Members are reminded that there are legislative requirements that apply to the use of the professional title, “psychologist”, and that where applicable, they must abide by such requirements.
Members are also reminded that lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an ethical standard is not itself a defence to an allegation of unethical conduct
General Principle A: Respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples
Psychologists regard people as intrinsically valuable and respect their rights, including the right to autonomy and justice. Psychologists engage in conduct which promotes equity and the protection of people’s human rights, legal rights, and moral rights. They respect the dignity of all people and peoples.
Explanatory Statement
Psychologists demonstrate their respect for people by acknowledging
their legal rights and moral rights, their dignity and right to participate in decisions a ecting their lives. They recognise the importance of people’s privacy and con dentiality, and physical and personal integrity, and recognise the power they hold over people when practising as psychologists. They have a high regard for the diversity and uniqueness of people and their right to linguistically and culturally appropriate services. Psychologists acknowledge people’s right to be treated fairly without discrimination or favouritism, and they endeavour to ensure that all people have reasonable and fair access to psychological services and share in the benenefits that the practice of psychology can offer.
Ethical Standards
A.1. Justice
Who should a Psychologist avoid discriminating against ?
How should they handle stereotyping or discrimination addressed at clients?
A.1.1. Psychologists avoid discriminating unfairly against people on the basis of age, religion, sexuality, ethnicity, gender, disability, or any other basis proscribed by law.
A.1.2. Psychologists demonstrate an understanding of the consequences for people of unfair discrimination and stereotyping related to their age, religion, sexuality, ethnicity, gender, or disability.
A.1.3. Psychologists assist their clients to address unfair discrimination or prejudice that is directed against the clients.
A.2. Respect
How should psychologists demonstrate respect?
Who should they consider?
In the course of their conduct, psychologists:
(a) communicate respect for other people through their actionsand language;
(b) do not behave in a manner that, having regard to the context, may reasonably be perceived as coercive or demeaning;
(c) respect the legal rights and moral rights of others; and
(d) do not denigrate the character of people by engaging in conduct that demeans them as persons, or defames, or harasses them.
A.2.2. Psychologists act with due regard for the needs, special competencies and obligations of their colleagues in psychology and other professions.
A.2. Respect
How is this important if you are speaking about another professional, reviewing another psych’s work or grand application for example?
A.2.3. When psychologists have cause to disagree with a colleague in psychology or another profession on professional issues they refrain from making intemperate criticism.
A.2.4. When psychologists in the course of their professional activities are required to review or comment on the qualifications, competencies or work of a colleague in psychology or another profession, they do this in an objective and respectful manner.
A.2.5. Psychologists who review grant or research proposals or material submitted for publication, respect the con dentiality and proprietary rights of those who made the submission.
A.3. Informed consent
What does this mean?
A.3.1. Psychologists fully inform clients regarding the psychological services they intend to provide, unless an explicit exception has been agreed upon in advance, or it is not reasonably possible to obtain informed consent.
A.3.2. Psychologists provide information using plain language.
A.3.5. Psychologists obtain and document informed consent from clients or their legal guardians prior to using psychological procedures that entail physical contact with clients.
A.3. Informed consent
How should psychologists ensure of informed consent?
A.3.3. Psychologists ensure consent is informed by:
(a) explaining the nature and purpose of the procedures they
intend using;
(b) clarifying the reasonably foreseeable risks, adverse effects, and possible disadvantages of the procedures they intend using;
(c) explaining how information will be collected and recorded;
(d) explaining how, where, and for how long, information will be stored, and who will have access to the stored information;
(e) advising clients that they may participate, may decline
to participate, or may withdraw from methods or procedures proposed to them;
(f) explaining to clients what the reasonably foreseeable
consequences would be if they decline to participate or
withdraw from the proposed procedures;
(g) clarifying the frequency, expected duration, financial and administrative basis of any psychological services that will be provided;
(h) explaining confidentiality and limits to confidentiality (see standard A.5.);
(i) making clear, where necessary, the conditions under which the psychological services may be terminated; and
(j) providing any other relevant information.
A.3. Informed consent
When would consent not be required?
What applies then?
A.3.4. Psychologists obtain consent from clients to provide a psychological service unless consent is not required because:
(a) rendering the service without consent is permitted by law; or (b) a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
or other appropriate ethics committee has waived the requirement in respect of research.
A.3.6. Psychologists who work with clients whose capacity to give consent is, or may be, impaired or limited, obtain the consent of people with legal authority to act on behalf of the client, and attempt to obtain the client’s consent as far as practically possible.
A.3.7. Psychologists who work with clients whose consent is not required by law still comply, as far as practically possible, with the processes described in A.3.1., A.3.2., and A.3.3.
A.4. Privacy
ALSO SEE OTHER PRIVACY RULES
Psychologists avoid undue invasion of privacy in the collection of information. This includes, but is not limited to:
(a) collecting only information relevant to the service being
provided; and
(b) not requiring supervisees or trainees to disclose their personal information, unless self-disclosure is a normal expectation of a given training procedure and informed consent has been obtained from participants prior to training.
A.5. Confidentiality
what does it mean and how do Psychologists protect it?
A.5.1. Psychologists safeguard the confidentiality of information obtained during their provision of psychological services. Considering their legal and organisational requirements, psychologists:
(a) make provisions for maintaining con dentiality in the
collection, recording, accessing, storage, dissemination, and disposal of information; and
(b) take reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality of
information after they leave a specific work setting, or cease to provide psychological services.
A.5. Confidentiality
under which circumstances can details be disclosed ?
A.5.2. Psychologists disclose confidential information obtained in the course of their provision of psychological services only under any one or more of the following circumstances:
(a) with the consent of the relevant client or a person with legal authority to act on behalf of the client;
(b) where there is a legal obligation to do so;
(c) if there is an immediate and specified risk of harm to an identi able person or persons that can be averted only by disclosing information; or
(d) when consulting colleagues, or in the course of supervision or professional training, provided the psychologist:
(i) conceals the identity of clients and associated parties
involved; or
(ii) obtains the client’s consent, and gives prior notice to the
recipients of the information that they are required to preserve the client’s privacy, and obtains an undertaking from the recipients of the information that they will preserve the client’s privacy.
A.5. Confidentiality
What are the details on disclosing to avoid harm?
*Please note: for psychologists whose work falls under the jurisdiction of the Privacy Act (1988) (Cth), Section 16A, Item 1 of the Privacy Act states that a Permitted General Situation provides an exception to the Australian Privacy Principles, and allows disclosure of client information if: the entity (psychologist) reasonably believes that the collection, use or disclosure is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to the life, health or safety of any individual, or to public health or safety. The threat does not have to be immediate or speci ed for information to be disclosed. Situations which meet the criteria for allowable disclosures are listed in Sections 16A and 16B of the Privacy Act.
A.5. Confidentiality
How does one handle this with the client?
A.5.3. Psychologists inform clients at the outset of the professional relationship, and as regularly thereafter as is reasonably necessary, of the:
(a) limits to confidentiality; and
(b) foreseeable uses of the information generated in the course of the relationship.
A.5. Confidentiality
What can you disclose?
A.5.4. When a standard of this Code allows psychologists to disclose information obtained in the course of the provision of psychological services, they disclose only that information which is necessary
to achieve the purpose of the disclosure, and then only to people required to have that information.
A.5. Confidentiality
Use of information collected… When can I use it for something else?
A.5.5. Psychologists use information collected about a client for a purpose other than the primary purpose of collection only:
(a) with the consent of that client;
(b) if the information is de-identified and used in the course of duly approved research; or
(c) when the use is required or authorised by or under law.
A.6. Release of information to clients
Psychologists, with consideration of legislative exceptions and their organisational requirements, do not refuse any reasonable request from clients, or former clients, to access client information, for which the psychologists have professional responsibility.
A.7. Collection of client information from associated parties
consent considerations
A.7.1. Prior to collecting information regarding a client from an associated party, psychologists obtain the consent of the client or, where applicable, a person who is authorised by law to represent the client.
A.7.2. Psychologists who work with clients whose capacity to give informed consent is, or may be, impaired or limited, obtain the informed consent of people with legal authority to act on behalf of the client, and attempt to obtain the client’s consent as far as practically possible.
A.7.3. Psychologists who work with clients whose informed consent is not required by law nevertheless attempt to comply, as far as practically possible, with the processes described in standards A.7.1., A.7.2., and A.7.4.
A.7. Collection of client information from associated parties
How do we ensure of consent to collect info from another party?
A.7.4. Psychologists ensure that a client’s consent for obtaining information from an associated party is informed by:
(a) identifying the sources from which they intend collecting
information;
(b) explaining the nature and purpose of the information they
intend collecting;
(c) stating how the information will be collected;
(d) indicating how, where, and for how long, information will be
stored, and who will have access to the stored information;
(e) advising clients that they may decline the request to collect
information from an associated party, or withdraw such
consent;
(f) explaining to clients what the reasonably foreseeable
consequences would be if they decline to give consent;
(g) explaining the associated party’s right to con dentiality and
limits thereof; and
(h) providing any other relevant information.
A.7. Collection of client information from associated parties
How do we ensure of consent to give info to another party?
A.7.5. Prior to collecting information about a client from an associated party, psychologists obtain the associated party’s consent to collect information from them by, as appropriate to the circumstances:
(a) providing the associated party with demonstrable evidence
that the client had given consent for the collection of such
information;
(b) explaining the nature and purpose of the information they
intend collecting;
(c) stating how the information will be collected;
(d) indicating how, where, and for how long, information will be
stored, and who will have access to the stored information;
(e) advising them that they may withdraw their consent at any
time;
(f) explaining to them what the reasonably foreseeable
consequences would be if they withdraw their consent;
(g) explaining the associated party’s right to con dentiality and
limits thereof; and
(h) providing any other relevant information.
