Rules of Conduct in Psychology

Rules of Conduct for Psychology Professions

• Definitions:
  • "barter" - the exchange of goods/services for psychological services instead of money
  • "board" - the Professional Board established by Notice No. R 75, 16 January 1998
  • "children" - persons under 14 years old
  • "client" - anyone receiving psychological services (individual, family, group, etc.)
  • "competency" - the ability to perform psychological acts based on training and qualifications
  • "confidential information" - information shared with a psychologist in confidence
  • "intern" - a registered trainee in psychology
  • "psychological services" - acts of assessment, diagnosis, and intervention
  • "psychologist" - a registered professional in psychology, registered counsellor, psychometrist, psycho-technician, internship student
  • "psychometrist" - a registered psychometrist
  • "psycho-technician" - a registered psycho-technician
  • "registered counsellor" - a registered professional counsellor -"section" - section of the Act
  • "sexual harassment" - unwelcome sexual conduct
  • "student" - registered student in professional psychology
  • "test data" - test responses and related materials
  • "the Act" - the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974)
  • "the code" - these rules

Professional Competence

• General: Psychologists should maintain high standards of competence. They are accountable for their actions.
• Competency Limits: Psychologists should limit their practice to their area of competence. Formal training and supervised experience determine competency.
• Maintaining Competency: Ongoing professional development is required.
• Adding New Competencies: Psychologists should consult with colleagues and gain additional training to develop new competencies. Should inform client about innovative techniques and risks.
• Extraordinary Circumstances: In emergencies, psychologists must provide services even if their competency isn't adequate.
• Personal Impairment: Psychologists with impairments (mental, emotional, or physiological) should refrain from work and seek assistance to prevent impaired performance.

Professional Relations

• Respect for Human Rights: Psychologists must respect the inherent dignity, values, and beliefs of individuals. They must respect bodily and psychological integrity, confidentiality.
• Delegation of Work: Psychologists should delegate work responsibly; ensure that delegation does not cause exploitation or a loss of objectivity.
• Use of Interpreters: Psychologists using interpreters ensure fluency and qualifications, minimize multiple relationships, and ensure competency.
• Third-Party Requests: Psychologists should clarify relationships in third-party situations (e.g. court orders) and appropriately document consent.

Informed Consent to Professional Procedures

• Informed Consent: When conducting research, assessment, or providing services, psychologists must obtain written informed consent from the client in a language the client understands.
• Capacity to Consent: The client needs capacity to consent to procedures.
• Information: Clients need accurate information regarding participation.
• Risk Information: Clients are aware of risks associated with procedures.
• Legal Incapacity: Psychologists obtain appropriate permissions from legal authorities for clients unable to consent.

Unfair Discrimination

• Fair Treatment: Psychologists should avoid discrimination based on any characteristic (age, culture, belief, disability, etc.)

Avoiding Harm

• Client Welfare: Psychologists should take reasonable steps to safeguard and minimize harm to clients, etcetera.

Conflicts of Interest

• Objectivity: Avoid roles that could impair objectivity
• Exploitation: Avoid exploiting clients or any other individuals

Third-Party Requests for Services

• Clarification of Roles and Responsibilities: Psychologists should clarify the roles with all parties involved in psychological services (when requested by a third party) to avoid ambiguity.

Multiple Relationships

• Multiple Relationships: Psychologists must be wary of multiple roles that could compromise their independence or cause harm to individuals.

Confidentiality

• Safeguarding Information: Psychologists must maintain the confidentiality of client information. Exceptions may exist by law or if the client is in imminent danger to themselves or others.

Advertising and Professional Representation

• Accurate Representation: Psychologists should accurately describe their qualifications, experience, and competence when advertising, avoiding deceptive claims.

Fees and Financial Arrangements

• Contracting Fees: Agree on fees and billing arrangements.
• Overcharging: Avoid exploiting clients regarding fees.
• Accuracy in Billing: Psychologists should avoid misrepresenting fees or billing for services not rendered.
• Limitations: Discuss any financial limitations that could affect the provision of psychological services.
• Collection of Outstanding Fees: If clients do not pay, address the matter fairly (e.g., with a collection agency).
• Withholding Information: Don't withhold reports or records due to unpaid fees.
• Account Itemisation: In cases with third-party payers, clearly show services rendered for payment purposes.

Psycho-legal Activities

• Competence: Psychologists performing psycho-legal duties must possess relevant knowledge and expertise.
• Basis for Psycho-legal Opinion: Psycho-legal assessments, recommendations, and reports should be well-substantiated.
• Limits to Opinions: If complete examination isn't possible, acknowledge limits of findings.
• Truthfulness and Candor: Psychologists must be truthful and candid in psycho-legal testimony.
• Conflicting Roles: Psychologists should avoid conflicting roles in psycho-legal matters.
• Maintenance of Expert Witness Role: Psychologists should balance their ethical responsibilities and legal requirements (court system).
• Prior Relationships: Prior relationships with clients don't preclude a psychologist from acting as a witness.

Advertising and Public Statements

• Accuracy in Representation: Psychologists must avoid misrepresenting their qualifications, experience, or competence in public statements.
• Statements by others: If others make promotional statements for psychologists, they are still accountable for its accuracy and content.

Therapeutic Activities

• Informed Consent to Therapy: Obtaining written informed consent from clients about the nature, fees, involvement, confidentiality, and potential risks related to therapy.
• Couples or Family Therapy: Clarify roles and responsibilities with multiple clients in therapy.
• Group Therapy: Describe roles, limits in confidentiality with a group session.
• Providing Therapy to Those Served by Others: Psychologists should consult with the involved parties and be meticulous of the client's welfare.
• Sexual Intimacies: Psychologists should never have sexual relationships with current therapy clients.
• Therapy with Former Sexual Partners: Psychologists can't have therapy clients who were previous sexual partners (minimum 24 months).
• Interruption of Therapy: Clearly explain procedures and steps should therapy end abruptly.

Teaching, Training and Supervision

• Psychologist Responsibilities: Ensure competence in education and training.
• Desription of Programs: Accurate, objective descriptions of programs that are objectively assessed.
• Accuracy and Objectivity: Conduct teaching/training accurately. Psychologists should avoid personal bias.
• Student or Trainee Disclosures: Exceptions may exist in evaluating students/trainees.

Research and Publication

• Institutional/Research Approval: Gain written approval to conduct research.
• Informed Consent: Obtain participant's informed consent, in a understandable manner.

Debriefing

• Information and Corrective Steps: Provide participants with results and correct misinterpretations appropriately.

Sharing Data

• Data Sharing with Others: Psychologists are not allowed to withhold data from other qualified researchers when appropriate.
• Substantive Claims: Maintain confidentiality if the request for data violates substantive claims by the requester of the data.

Resolving Ethical Issues

• Ethical Uncertainties: Consult knowledgeable individuals about ethical uncertainties.
• Ethical Conflict: Address clashes with laws/organizational demands.
• Informal Resolutions: Prioritize resolving ethical conflicts with other parties directly if appropriate.
• Reporting Violations: Report ethical violations for proper procedures

Reporting Colleague Impairment

• Professional Impairment: If there’s a reasonable basis for suspecting a colleague is professionally impaired, they should notify board authorities.

Discrimination

• Discrimination: Psychologists cannot discriminate against those who make a complaint.

This quiz covers key definitions and concepts regarding the rules of conduct for psychology professionals. Topics include roles such as psychologists, psychometrists, and interns, as well as principles like competency and confidentiality. Test your understanding of these essential guidelines in psychology.