Psychology Code of Ethics

• 4 Imperative Guide
  • Answer the client's questions, acknowledging one's limitations
  • Use one's power justly
  • Defend professional autonomy

The Code of Ethics

• The principles that should inspire professional conduct include the following:
  • Merit the client's trust
  • Possess an adequate competence
  • It is the psychologist's identity card.
  • Strengthens the public image.
  • Creates collective awareness.
• Proclaimed on January 17, 1998, updated in 2006 (articles 23 and 40) and 2013 (articles 1, 5 and 21).
• 42 articles in 5 parts:
  • Art. 1-21: General Principles
  • Art. 22-32: Relationships with Users and Clients
  • Art. 33-38: Relationships with Colleagues
  • Art. 39-40: Relationships with Society
  • Art. 41-42: Implementation Rules

Chapter I, Article da 1 a 4

• Prohibition of ignoring the rules of the code.
• Sanctions: warning, censure, suspension (max 1 year), cancellation.
• The mission of the psychologist is to help others, so pay attention to the effects of their work.
• Cornerstone of the Code: respect universal human rights.
• Created from the Law 56/89.

Composed of

• Purposes and Inspirations

Protection of the Client

• Art 4 and 9: Obligation of correct information.
• Art 11 and 17: Professional secrecy.
• Art 28: Do not derive economic advantages.

Protection of Colleagues

• Art 35: Prohibition of fraudulently appropriating the products of colleagues' thoughts.
• Art 36: Prohibition of publicly giving negative judgments about the training and competence of other psychologists.

Protection of the Professional Group

• Art 6: Art. 361 of the Criminal Code states the Obligation to Draft REPORT (the report is made by the freelance professional) even if the patient is the PERPETRATOR of a crime (conflict between legal rules and professional secrecy).
• Art 8: Rules of decorum, dignity and autonomy from other professions.
• Art 3 e 34: Obligation to report cases of abuse.

Responsibility towards Society

• Rules on having to use knowledge of human behavior to promote the psychological well-being of the individual, the group and the community.
• e.g. Not venturing out of one's own competence, not relying on tests done by those who do not have specific preparation, etc.

Article da 5 a 10

• Art 5: Continuous and permanent training -> ECM
• Art 6: Do not harm the professional image (working conditions, etc.).
• Art 7: Psychologists as scientists in relation to third parties -> Professional judgments only if there is adequate and reliable documentation.
• Art 8: Obligation to counteract the abusive exercise of the profession.

Article da 11 a 17

• Art 9: Informed consent: freedom to express and refuse/withdraw consent and confidentiality/anonymity.
• Art 10: Behavior towards animals: respect rights.
• Art 11: Professional secrecy.
• Art 12: Abstention from testimonies.

Attention: Article 13

• Art 13: Obligation of report and complaint if the patient is a VICTIM, no obligation if the patient is an AUTHOR (Art. 365 of the penal code). In case of obligation, refer only to what is strictly necessary.
• If you are a Technical Consultant of the Court (CTU), public official or persons in charge of public service, you are subject to the article of the penal code.
• EXCEPTION Art. CP 362 no obligation to report for those responsible for socio-rehabilitative therapeutic communities.

Article da 18 a 21

• Art 14: In group interventions, the psychologist must inform the participants of the rules and commit the members to confidentiality for others.
• Art 15: In collaboration with other professions with professional secrecy, share only what is strictly necessary.
• Art 16: Right of confidentiality also in scientific publications.
• Art 17: Secrecy, custody and control also of notes or recordings.
• Art 18: Freedom of choice of the patient of the professional to contact.
• Art 19: Respect for the criteria of specific competence, qualification or preparation.
• Art 20: Who teaches must stimulate students to be interested in deontological principles.
• Art 21: Prohibition of teaching the use of tools and techniques reserved for the profession to people outside the profession.

Chapter II, Article da 22 a 32

• Art 25: Correct use of instruments to protect users even if the intervention is commissioned by third parties.
• Art 26: Do not undertake or pursue professional activities where personal problems or conflicts affect efficiency or make them harmful.
• Art 27: Evaluate/propose interruption of the therapeutic relationship if one notes that the patient does not derive any benefit from it. If requested, provide the patient with information necessary to seek other more suitable interventions.

Article da 22 a 24

• Art 22: Non-harmful conduct and without taking advantage of one's role.
• Art 23: Transparency in payment: the professional fee is established immediately.
• Art 24: Provide the individual/group/institution with adequate and comprehensible information on services, purposes and methods of the same and the legal degree/limits.

Importance of Article 23

• 2006: abolition of minimum tariffs (Bersani Law).
• 2012: abolition of maximum tariffs (Monti Bill).
• 2017: wide and indicative parameters, the cost of the service must be established in advance with the client and with a written quotation (DDL Lorenzin).

Article da 25 a 32

• Art 28: relational limits - avoid mixing professional role and private life.
• Art 29: No comparaggio.
• Art 30: Compensation is prohibited which does not constitute compensation for professional services.
• Art 31: Interventions on minors and interdicts are subject to the consent of those who exercise guardianship or parental authority.
• Art 32: When professional performance is requested by a third party with respect to the recipient of the intervention, the psychologist clarifies with the parties involved the nature and purposes of the intervention.

Chapter III Article da 33 a 38

• Art 33: Respect and mutual support, loyalty, collegiality.
• Art 34: No intellectual egoism, yes to the contribution of psychological disciplines.
• Art 35: Recognize and value the work of colleagues (indicate sources).
• Art 36: No negative judgments about colleagues.
• Art 37: Responsibility to accept professional commitments within one's own abilities and skills (see art. 5) otherwise evaluate sending to another colleague.
• Art 38: Principle of decorum and professional dignity (see art. 2).

Chapter IV, Article da 39 a 40

• Art 39: Correct and accurate presentation of one's own training, experience and competence.
• Art 40: Advertising in compliance with professional decorum (Bersani Decree 2006) and the Psychologist does not publicly assume incorrect behaviors aimed at procuring clients.

Chapter V, Article da 41 a 42

• Art 41: Establishment of the "Deontological Commission" of the Order of Psychologists and periodic revision.
• Art 42: Entry into force of the CD.
• NB. Art. 24

New Regulations: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

• May 2015: GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) integrates Legislative Decree 2003 (Privacy Code).
• Recent changes:
  • Psychologist's declaration of how their data will be processed.
  • How to draft informative material and the importance of effective information/consent methods.
  • Management of professional archives (encrypted files and archives).
  • Very severe sanctions.
• NB. Art. 23