Week 4.5 Flashcards
Case Study 8: An unmarried 17 year-old student filed a complaint with the APS Ethics Committee against a psychologist employed by a university counselling service. The psychologist supervised the provisional psychologist who was completing a placement at the counselling service. Psychologist was a registered psychologist whereas the provisional psychologist was not. The complainant alleged that the supervising psychologist breached the confidentiality of his client-therapist relationship by alerting the client’s parents of his suicide threat. The provisional psychologist had informed his supervising psychologist of client’s suicide threat after client refused to seek intern-recommended voluntary hospitalization. The psychologist required the provisional psychologist to give him the student’s name, the psychologist informed the client’s parents who hospitalized their son.
Which of the following was breached:
- Competence
- Confidentiality
- Dual relationships
- Informed consent
- Therapist impairment
No ethics were breached.
- The Ethics Committee ruled that there was no violation of confidentiality and the psychologist made a reasonable judgement.
- The psychologist was supervising a provisional psychologist and therefore had the ethical obligation to know all the details of the case
- The psychologist encountered a conflict between the principle of confidentiality, protecting client’s welfare, and the parents’ interest with involvement in treatment decisions for their dependent minor child.
- The board considered the psychologist had acted in the best interests of the child
What violates confidentiality?
Threat of suicide violates confidentiality of a young person
Case Study 9: Therapist knew after only several minutes of the first session that he could not be client’s counsellor because of a strong attraction to her which caused his poor concentration and sexual arousal. After ten minutes, therapist told client that he was not the right therapist for her, candidly explained the reason, and offered assistance with a referral. Analysis: Therapist immediately recognized that his intense feelings may continue and were affecting his therapist role, as such, he correctly deduced to limit client’s self-disclosure. Ultimately, therapist married client within several months but the relationship ended shortly thereafter.
Which of the following was breached:
- Competence
- Confidentiality
- Dual relationships
- Informed consent
- Therapist impairment
Dual relationships.
- The key here is the time between the end of the therapeutic relationship [no matter how brief] and the establishment of the social-sexual relationship.
- The power relationship of the therapist and the vulnerability of the client requires a substantial moratorium period
What is the code of ethics guidelines on engaging in
(a) Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients for at least two years after cessation or termination of therapy
(b) Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients even after a two-year interval except in the most unusual circumstances.
Examples of PBA media release on ethics breeches
Counsellor fined for posing as a psychologist to a vulnerable family (2017)
Tribunal finds former psychologist guilty of professional misconduct [Sexual] (2015)
Tribunal affirms Board decision to refuse registration (2015)
What happens if you breach ethical conduct? (3)
- It is a hearing - doesn’t give jail sentences, doesn’t give fines
- Can only say take away registration, no longer a practicing psychologist - could be forever or for an amount of time 2 years, 5 years etc.
- Can be represented by self or legal practitioner
Academic staff code of ethics (5)
Guiding principles
1) Respecting others
2) Behaving professionally
3) Avoiding conflict of interest
4) Using University resources
5) Recognising academic freedom
Respecting others
Staff at all times are expected to treat students, other staff and members of the community with respect
Behaving professionally
Staff are expected to carry out their work duties in a professional and conscientious manner at all times
Avoiding conflict of interest
Staff must take reasonable steps to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest and act in the best interests of the University
Using University resources
Staff are expected to use all University facilities, equipment and processes efficiently, carefully and in a proper manner
Recognising academic freedom
Staff have a general right to intellectual freedom of enquiry and expression in areas where they possess a level of expertise
Academic freedom (2)
Academic freedom - can talk about issues you are an expert in but can’t talk about issues not an expert in e.g. can’t talk about climate change but can ask why some people believe in climate change and others don’t
Academic freedom limited to what you’re an expert in - need to have expertise
Case study 1: Student D complained that Lecturer M had offended him and was prejudiced against homosexuals when the lecturer showed the historical “Grim Reaper” advertisement warning against the spread of HIV-AIDs. During the discussion with the HoD Psychology, Lecturer M justified the material as it demonstrated the use of emotion-evoking material to change societal attitudes. Lecturer M was praised for his innovation, but instructed to warn students before any demonstration that was either sensitive or controversial.
Which of the following were breached:
- Respecting others
- Behaving professionally
- Avoiding conflict of interest
- Using University resources
- Recognising academic freedom
Respecting others and Behaving professionally.
Case Study 2: Dr N takes Psychology of Politics. In debating issues with students , she talks over students with whom she disagrees. Further, she ridicules these same students if their questions strike her as off-target or ill-conceived. Most [~80%] survey respondents [academics and students] rate lecturer’s insulting or ridiculing students as “extremely unethical”
Which of the following were breached:
- Respecting others
- Behaving professionally
- Avoiding conflict of interest
- Using University resources
- Recognising academic freedom
Respecting others and Behaving professionally.
