The Ethics Code

Question 1

What are the four components of the Ethics Code?

Answer 1

The Ethics Code consists of:

1. Introduction
2. Preamble
3. Five General Principles
4. Ten Ethical Standards

Question 2

What are the General Principles?

Answer 2

The General Principles are aspirational, meaning that they are goals intended to “guide psychologists toward the highest ideals of psychology.” It is explicitly stated that they are not enforceable rules.

Question 3

A malpractice lawsuit can be thought of as based on the four D’s. What are they?

Answer 3

Dereliction of Duty Directly causing Damages.

Thus, to prevail in a malpractice lawsuit, a patient must prove that the therapist was negligent (dereliction of duty) and that this negligence caused harm to the patient (directly causing damages).

Question 4

When the Ethics Code sets a higher standard of conduct than the law, what is the best approach?

Answer 4

Psychologists are bound to uphold “the higher ethical standard.”

However, when there is a conflict between ethics and law (i.e., meeting the ethical commitment would seem to violate the law), psychologists must “make known their commitment to the Ethics Code and take steps to resolve the conflict in a responsible manner.”

Question 5

According to the Preamble, what are the two goals of the ethics code?

Answer 5

1. the welfare and protection of the individuals and groups with whom psychologists work
2. the education of members, students, and the public regarding ethical standards of the discipline

Question 6

List the five general principles

Answer 6

Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence

Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility

Principle C: Integrity

Principle D: Justice

Principle E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity

Question 7

What are three situations in which referring out would be appropriate?

Answer 7

Referring out clients would be appropriate in the following situations:

a) the therapist’s personal beliefs and issues interfere with the therapy
b) the client feels uncomfortable with the therapist
c) the therapist lacks competence in treating the presenting problem.

Question 8

Under what circumstances does the ethics code stipulate that a psychologist may provide services for which they are not fully competent?

Answer 8

if an individual would otherwise be unable to obtain mental health services.

Psychologists must have closely related prior training and experience in the area and must then pursue further training or study in order to obtain the necessary competence.

Question 9

In emerging areas in which clear guidelines for competence have not already been established, what should Psychologists do?

Answer 9

Psychologists should take “reasonable steps to ensure competence.”

Question 10

According to the ethics code, what is a multiple relationship?

Answer 10

A multiple relationship occurs when a psychologist is in a professional role with a person and:

(1) at the same time is in another role with the person
(2) at the same time is in a relationship with a person closely associated with or related to the person . . .
(3) promises to enter into another relationship in the future with the person or a person closely associated with or related to the person

Question 11

Under what two conditions should a psychologist avoid a multiple relationship?

Answer 11

1. If it might impair the psychologists objectivity, competence, or effectiveness
2. If it might harm or exploit the other party

Question 12

When psychologists provide services at the request of a third party (e.g., an insurance company, EAP, the courts), what should psychologists clarify at the outset of treatment?

Answer 12

1. Their role (e.g., therapist, diagnostician)
2. who the client is
3. The probable uses of the services (e.g., assessment information being used to judge a defendant’s competence)
4. any limits to confidentiality.

Question 13

According to ethical standard 2, psychologists may provide services for which they are not fully competent under what circumstance?

Answer 13

1. if an individual would otherwise be unable to obtain services
2. provided psychologists have closely related prior training/experience, and pursue further training

Question 14

According to ethical standard 2, psychologists who want to practice in a new area should do what?

Answer 14

to practice in new areas, psychologists must seek appropriate training, supervision, or consultation

Question 15

According to ethical standard 2, should psychologists provide services in emergencies when they are not fully competent?

Answer 15

Yes, they may provide services for which they are not fully competent; they should terminate as soon as the emergency has passed or more appropriate services are secured

Question 16

Under what circumstances are multiple relationships acceptable?

Answer 16

1. Do not impair a psychologist’s objectivity, competence, or effectiveness
2. Do not harm or exploit the other party

Question 17

According to ethical standard 3, what should psychologists do when they are required to serve in more than one role in a judicial or administrative proceeding (e.g., consultant for one party and fact witness for the court)?

Answer 17

psychologists must clarify their roles and the limits of confidentiality, and update this clarification as often as changes occur

Question 18

Referring out clients would be appropriate in what three situations?

Answer 18

1. The therapists personal beliefs or issues interfere with the therapy
2. The client feels uncomfortable with the therapist
3. The therapist lacks competence in treating the presenting problem.

Question 19

According to ethical standard 3, a multiple relationship occurs when a psychologist is in a professional role with a person and:

Answer 19

1. At the same time in another role with that person
2. At the same time is in a relationship with a person closely associated with or related to the person
3. Promises to enter into another relationship in the future with the person or a person closely associated with or related to the person.

Question 20

According to ethical standard 3, when psychologists provide services at the request of a third party, psychologists should clarify what three things at the outset of treatment?

Answer 20

1. Their role (e.g., therapist, diagnostician, etc.)
2. Who the client is
3. The probable uses of services (e.g., assessment information being used to judge a defendant’s competence)

Question 21

According to ethical standard 5, testimonials may never be solicited from who?

Answer 21

1. Current clients

2. Any persons who are vulnerable to undue influence

Question 22

According to ethical standard 5, psychologists who provide public advice should make what clear?

Answer 22

They are not providing treatment, but are only offering advice or feedback

Question 23

Describe the difference between HIPAA and the APA ethics code, where withholding records for nonpayment is concerned?

Answer 23

According to the APA ethical standards, psychologists may not withhold records that are necessary for emergency treatment because the client owes them money.

According to HIPAA, psychologists may not under any circumstances withhold record for non-payment.

In other words, it is technically ethical, but illegal to withhold records for nonpayment in a non-emergency situation. Bottom line: DON’T DO IT.

Question 24

According to ethics code 6 (record keeping and fees), do psychologists need to inform clients at the outset of treatment that they may use a collection agency?

Answer 24

No, but the patient must be informed of this fact at some point before using one.

Question 25

According to ethical standard 6 (record keeping and fees), bartering is permissible as long as what two criteria are fulfilled?

Answer 25

1. It is not clinically contraindicated

2. It is not exploitative

Question 26

According to ethical standard 7 (education and training), under what two conditions may instructors or educational programs require students to disclose personal information (e.g., history of abuse, sexual history, history of treatment).

Answer 26

1. The educational program has made it clear in its admission and program materials
2. If it is necessary to help students who are having personal problems that interfere with their clinical work or that pose a risk of harm

Question 27

According to ethical standard 8 (research and publication), under what two circumstances is informed consent not necessary, before recording voices or images in research?

Answer 27

1. In naturalistic observational research in which personal identification and harm are avoided
2. In a research design that involves deception. In such cases, consent for the recording must be obtained during the debriefing.

Question 28

According to ethical standard 8 (research and publication), under what three conditions can a researcher dispense with informed consent?

Answer 28

1. Research on normal educational practices
2. Anonymous questionnaires, naturalistic observations, or archival research
3. The study of a job or organizations effectiveness

Question 29

According to ethical standard 8 (research and publication), under what two conditions are deception acceptable in research?

Answer 29

1. It is justified by the studies scientific value

2. Alternative procedures without deception are not available

Question 30

For what type of research are psychologists prohibited from using deception?

Answer 30

Research that may cause physical pain or emotional distress

Question 31

According to ethical standard 8 (research and publication), the ethics code specifies that students should usually receive first authorship when their dissertations are published as articles. When does this standard normally not apply?

Answer 31

It doesn’t apply to masters theses

Often, a masters thesis is completed as a part of a larger on-going research project. The students contribution doesn’t actually warrant first authorship.

Question 32

According to the ethics code, what two conditions must be met before deception can be used in research?

Answer 32

1. The study must have “prospective scientific, educational, or applied” value
2. Alternative procedures must not be available

Question 33

According to the ethics code, can participants be deceived of the risk involved in a study?

Answer 33

No! While participants can be subjected to risk in experimental studies, they may never be deceived about the risk.

Question 34

According to the ethics code, what should a forensic psychologist do when an examination of the patient is not feasible?

Answer 34

1. Clarify what effect this is likely to have on the validity of the report
2. Limit your conclusions accordingly

Question 35

According to the pamphlet, “Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex,” how is sexual contact defined?

Answer 35

“The touching of an intimate part of another person, including sexual intercourse.”

Verbal suggestions and innuendos are not considered sexual contact.

Question 36

Is violating the ethics code cause for civil liability?

Answer 36

The ethics code is not intended to be the basis for civil liability. Violating the ethics code does not in itself determine whether the psychologist is legally liable in a court action, etc.