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What are professional ethics and why are they important?

What are professional ethics and why are they important?

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What are professional ethics and why are they important?

Written by

Redaction Team

August 26, 2021

Professional Career, Professional Development

Professional ethics is important because it dictates to professionals a series of rules related to the way a professional acts towards the people with whom he/she relates professionally.From a philosophical point of view, ethics has to do with morality and with the way people act in the sense of goodness or badness.In this article I will inform you about professional ethics, types of ethics, characteristics of professional ethics, principles on which it is based and the reasons why professional ethics is important.

What is professional ethic?

Professional ethics is constituted by all the moral standards that govern the behavior and actions of professionals. It should be noted that for each profession these rules may vary, but they will always be based on principles and values.It is also pertinent to conceptualize a professional, morals and ethics.Professional. Generally refers to a university graduate who has completed a degree and who exercises his or her profession with ability and application.Moral. This term refers to a person’s way of acting, in terms of his or her social and individual life, relating this action to good and evil or to goodness and malice.Ethics. It refers to the moral norms on which the conduct of a person is based in the environment in which he/she develops; be it individual, social or professional, among others. Ethics is divided into three branches or types: metaethics, normative and applied.Professional ethics is of the applied type, where controversial issues are dealt with from the point of view of morality.

Why are professional ethics important?

Professional ethics are important because they serve to create organizations based on moral standards of conduct.Here are a number of reasons why professional ethics are important.

Based on a set of rules, it can organize a group of professionals from the same profession.

The organization formed contributes to the personal growth of the associated professional.

Motivates teamwork and increases the bonds between colleagues.

Creates a system for each profession, called a code of ethics; in which the duties to be fulfilled by each professional are twinned.

Provides personal and professional benefits by regulating the actions of a profession and highlighting the virtues of the professional.

General characteristics of professional ethics

Professional ethics has general characteristics from which other more specific ones can be derived:

It is related to morality.

Professional ethics arises from the impulse to keep human performance in order and under rules.Professional ethics seeks to support and improve the service provided by a professional.

It pursues the moral rectitude of the professions.

Professional ethics seeks to ensure that the professions follow the positive paths established in each society.Professional ethics implies compliance with values.It presents the virtues with which professionals practice.

Principles of professional ethics

Professional ethics are based on the principles of beneficence, autonomy, non-maleficence and justice.

Principle of beneficence.

Its foundation refers to goods and virtues; and the professional's actions are oriented to maintain a favorable behavior towards the person requesting the service and towards society in general.

Principle of autonomy.

It is oriented in the respect for freedom, in the search for balance and equity as a rule in the relationship between the professional and the client; so that there are no conflicts of interest and much less ethical.

Principle of non-maleficence.

It is based on the omission of any act that may cause harm; the professional is obliged not to harm in any way the people he/she deals with.

Principle of justice.

It is based on the social sense of the profession; it pursues the commitment of the professions to seek the common good, dignified life and the establishment of justice and equity.

Types of professional ethics

Professional ethics refers to principles and criteria that regulate the actions of a professional; however, there are several types of professional ethics, each of which is related to a profession. The following are the most relevant ones.

Legal ethics. It has as its main characteristic professional secrecy and refers to the practice of law.

Medical ethics. It regulates the actions to be followed in a conflict between the morals of a health professional and his or her professional duty.

Engineering ethics. Refers to placing the best interests of communities above personal desires.

Teaching ethics. As a guidance counselor and role model for children and young people, this professional should observe the best of conduct.

Military ethics. Indicates a series of criteria to limit their actions in relation to the use of force.

Administrator ethics. Loyalty, honesty and legality, among others are basic aspects expected of this professional.

Ethics of the psychologist. Respect for the individual, confidentiality, honesty, and responsibility are the most important aspects of this professional.

Professional Code of Ethics

There is no one-size-fits-all code of ethics for professionals, as the ethical principles that guide a professional’s conduct will vary depending on the individual’s field of practice.However, there are some general ethical principles that all professionals should adhere to, such as honesty, integrity, and respect for others.Additionally, professionals should always put the interests of their clients or patients first and avoid any conflicts of interest.The framework of the disciplinary ethical standards must be set out by the organization.It will be an obligation to follow the code of conduct and ethics for the members of that profession.The aim of having a code of ethics is to reduce the doubts in ethical decision making processes.Moreover regardless of the industry, professionals have to preserve the integrity and reputation of the company.With a code of ethics, organizations might not ensure totally that employees wil behave, but it sets out a minimum ethical behavior that is expected to reduce or eliminate any complaints, confidential information leakage or ethical issues where the image of the company can be damaged.

How to develop higher professional ethical standards?

Professionals can learn about ethical procedures and how to apply them in their work. Higher professional ethical standards can be developed through education and training.Some ways to develop professional conduct in ethical standards may include taking courses or workshops on ethics, attending professional conferences, or reading professional journals. Individuals can also seek out mentors, supervisors or role models who exemplify ethical responsibilities with professionalism at their workplace.They can also receive guidance on how to deal with ethical dilemmas and relevant laws.Additionally, organizations can create an ethical culture by setting clear expectations for employees and providing resources to help them make ethical decisions.

Examples of compliance with professional ethics

Compliance with professional ethics is evident when:

A physician who suppresses prejudices and interests to save a life.

The lawyer who defends his client and respects confidentiality even when it is against his personal ethics.

The journalist who listens to both sides of the story and disseminates it objectively and impartially.

Offering respectful treatment to colleagues in the same profession, or to any other professional with whom he/she interacts.

In conclusion, there is a close relationship between ethics and the profession, since professionals in all areas must act under the principle of not doing wrong voluntarily to another human being and comply with ethics by contributing to collective development and social welfare.

References

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What is Professional Ethics? Meaning, Definition, Importance

at is Professional Ethics? Meaning, Definition, Importance

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edukedarOnline Education Made EasyEdukedar ProjectOnline Education Made EasyThursday, March 7, 2024HomeAbout UsStudy NowManagementArtEngineeringWrite For UsOur TeamContact UsPrivacy PolicyHome Management What is Professional Ethics?ManagementWhat is Professional Ethics?By Gaurav Mamgain - July 1, 2023FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp

Professional ethics play a crucial role in ensuring that professionals maintain the highest standards of conduct and provide quality services to their clients or stakeholders.What is Professional Ethics?Professional ethics refers to the ethical principles and standards that govern the behavior and decisions of professionals in their specific fields. These principles and standards are established to ensure that professionals act with integrity, honesty, and accountability while providing services to their clients, customers, or stakeholders.Professional ethics cover a wide range of professions, including medicine, law, engineering, accounting, teaching, and others. Each profession has its own set of ethical standards that are designed to guide the behavior of its members.Professional Ethics MeaningProfessional Ethics means conduct of behavior and practice when carrying out professional work, e.g., consulting, researching, teaching, and writing.These are standards or codes of conduct set by people in a specific profession.Definition of Professional EthicsThe professional ethics of an organisation are the moral principles or standards that govern the conduct of the members of that organisation.“Professional values and ethics as evidenced in behavior and comportment that reflect the value and ethics of psychology, integrity, and responsibility.” – Fouad et al., 2009“A code of ethics is usually a written document produced by a professional association, occupational regulatory body, or other professional body with the stated aim of guiding the practitioners who are members, protecting service users and safeguarding the reputation of the profession.” – Banks, 2003Professional ethics is a shared process of critical reflection upon our obligation as professionals. Ethical codes communicate a profession’s distinctive responsibilities and relationships, both among practitioners and between practitioners and society. – Feeney and Kipins 1985Objectives of Professional EthicsHere are some specific objectives of professional ethics: Protection of the PublicPromotion of Professional ValuesMaintenance of Professional StandardsPrevention of Unethical BehaviorAccountabilityProtection of the PublicProfessional ethics aim to protect the public by ensuring that professionals provide services that are safe, competent, and ethical. This includes maintaining confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, and providing services that are in the best interests of the clients.Promotion of Professional ValuesProf. Ethics promotes the values that are important to a profession, such as honesty, integrity, respect, and responsibility. By adhering to these values, professionals can build trust and credibility with their clients and the public.Maintenance of Professional StandardsProf. Ethics helps to maintain the standards of the profession by establishing guidelines and standards for ethical behavior. These standards are designed to ensure that professionals provide services that meet the required standards of quality and competence. Prevention of Unethical BehaviorProf. Ethics aims to prevent unethical behavior by providing guidance on how to identify and address ethical issues. By being aware of potential ethical dilemmas, professionals can take steps to prevent unethical behavior before it occurs.Accountability in Professional EthicsProf. Ethics promotes accountability by holding professionals responsible for their actions. This helps to ensure that professionals are held accountable for any unethical behavior and that they take steps to prevent such behavior from occurring in the future.

Importance of Professional EthicsHere are some additional points on the importance of professional ethics:Ensures Responsible and Ethical behaviorPromotes Trust and CredibilityEncourages Ethical Decision-makingFosters a Positive Work EnvironmentPromotes Social ResponsibilityEnsures Responsible and Ethical behaviorProfessional ethics define the principles and standards that guide responsible and ethical behavior in a profession. By adhering to these principles, professionals can ensure that they act with integrity, accountability, and responsibility, which can lead to positive outcomes for themselves and their stakeholders.Promotes Trust and CredibilityAdhering to Prof. ethics can help professionals build trust and credibility with their clients, colleagues, and the public. This trust and credibility can help professionals establish and maintain long-term relationships, and it can also enhance their reputation in their profession.Encourages Ethical Decision-makingProf. ethics provides guidance for ethical decision-making, which can help professionals make sound decisions that are in the best interests of their clients, colleagues, and stakeholders. This can help prevent ethical dilemmas, conflicts of interest, and other ethical issues that can negatively impact their profession.Fosters a Positive Work EnvironmentProf. ethics can help create a positive work environment by promoting respect, professionalism, and cooperation among colleagues. This can lead to better communication, collaboration, and productivity, and it can also improve employee morale and job satisfaction.Promotes Social ResponsibilityProf. ethics can promote social responsibility by encouraging professionals to consider the impact of their work on society and the environment. This can lead to more sustainable and responsible practices that benefit society and the planet.Nature and Characteristics of Professional EthicsHere are some key characteristics of professional ethics:Specific to a professionSelf-regulatoryBased on valuesObligatoryPurposefulSpecific to a professionProfessional ethics are specific to a particular profession or field. They are developed based on the nature of the work, the expectations of clients or stakeholders, and the standards of the profession.Self-regulatoryProf. ethics are often self-regulatory, meaning that they are developed and enforced by the professionals themselves, rather than by external regulations or laws. This is because professionals are seen as experts in their field, and they are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior.Based on valuesProf. ethics are based on fundamental values such as honesty, integrity, accountability, and respect. These values are central to the ethical behavior of professionals and are reflected in the ethical codes of their profession.ObligatoryProf. ethics are obligatory, meaning that professionals are expected to adhere to these ethical principles and values in their work. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action, loss of license or certification, or legal consequences. DynamicProf. ethics are dynamic, meaning that they are subject to change over time. As the nature of work, the expectations of clients, and the standards of the profession change, so too do the ethical principles and values that guide the behavior of professionals.PurposefulProf. ethics serve a purpose beyond just guiding the behavior of professionals. They also promote the welfare of clients or stakeholders, protect the public interest, and maintain the integrity and credibility of the profession.Scope of Professional EthicsHere are some examples of the scope of professional ethics:Standards of ConductRelationships with Clients or StakeholdersProfessional CompetenceResponsibility to Society and the EnvironmentEthical Decision-makingDisciplinary ProcessesStandards of ConductProfessional ethics sets standards of conduct that professionals are expected to follow in their work. These standards cover issues such as honesty, integrity, confidentiality, respect, and accountability.Relationships with Clients or StakeholdersProf. ethics guides the behavior of professionals in their relationships with clients or stakeholders. This includes issues such as informed consent, conflicts of interest, and maintaining appropriate boundaries. Professional CompetenceProf. ethics includes standards for professional competence and performance. Professionals are expected to maintain their knowledge and skills and to practice within the limits of their competence.Responsibility to Society and the EnvironmentProf. ethics covers the responsibilities that professionals have to society and the environment. This includes issues such as sustainability, social justice, and community engagement.Ethical Decision-makingProf. Ethics provides guidance on ethical decision-making. Professionals are expected to consider the impact of their decisions on clients or stakeholders and to make decisions that are consistent with ethical principles and values.Disciplinary ProcessesProf. ethics includes processes for addressing ethical violations and enforcing ethical standards. This includes mechanisms for investigating complaints, imposing sanctions, and revoking licenses or certifications.Advantages of Professional EthicsProfessional ethics offer several advantages for both professionals and the organizations they work for. Here are some of the key advantages:Enhances Professional ReputationImproves Decision-MakingEncourages AccountabilityFosters a Positive Workplace CultureProtects the Public InterestLimitations of Professional EthicsHere are some of the limitations of professional ethics:Limited Enforcement MechanismsConflicts Between Personal and Professional ValuesLack of ClarityLimited ScopeInadequate Training FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp

Previous articleWhat is Industrial Psychology?Next articleWhat is Financial Management?Gaurav Mamgainhttp://edukedar.comGaurav has been in the freelance writing and marketing profession since 2014.

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Professional ethics - Wikipedia

Professional ethics - Wikipedia

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Professional ethics

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Principles and rules which guide professional activity

Not to be confused with Professional Ethics (journal).

"Professional Misconduct" redirects here. For the 2023 album, see Professional Misconduct (album).

A 12th-century Byzantine manuscript of the Hippocratic oath.

Professional ethics encompass the personal and corporate standards of behavior expected of professionals.[1]

The word professionalism originally applied to vows of a religious order. By no later than the year 1675, the term had seen secular application and was applied to the three learned professions: divinity, law, and medicine.[2] The term professionalism was also used for the military profession around this same time.

Professionals and those working in acknowledged professions exercise specialist knowledge and skill. How the use of this knowledge should be governed when providing a service to the public can be considered a moral issue and is termed "professional ethics".[3]

One of the earliest examples of professional ethics is the Hippocratic oath to which medical doctors still adhere to this day.

Components[edit]

Some professional organizations may define their ethical approach in terms of a number of discrete components.[4] Typically these include honesty, trustworthiness, transparency, accountability, confidentiality, objectivity, respect, obedience to the law, and loyalty.

Implementation[edit]

Most professionals have internally enforced codes of practice that members of the profession must follow to prevent exploitation of the client and to preserve the integrity and reputation of the profession. This is not only for the benefit of the client but also for the benefit of those belonging to that profession. Disciplinary codes allow the profession to define a standard of conduct and ensure that individual practitioners meet this standard, by disciplining them from the professional body if they do not practice accordingly. This allows those professionals who act with a conscience to practice in the knowledge that they will not be undermined commercially by those who have fewer ethical qualms. It also maintains the public’s trust in the profession, encouraging the public to continue seeking their services.

Internal regulation[edit]

In cases where professional bodies regulate their own ethics, there are possibilities for such bodies to become self-serving and fail to follow their own ethical code when dealing with renegade members. This is particularly true of professions in which they have almost a complete monopoly on a particular area of knowledge. For example, until recently, the English courts deferred to the professional consensus on matters relating to their practice that lay outside case law and legislation.[5]

New UK research shows that lawyers “are sometimes too inclined to engage in professionally questionable, and potentially even illegal, actions without fully reflecting on the legal rules and interests engaged”. It found the potential for the rule of law to be challenged by certain forms of lawyer conduct was “widespread and significant”.[6] Recent events (2023) in the USA seem to reflect similar issues.

Statutory regulation[edit]

In many countries there is some statutory regulation of professional ethical standards such as the statutory bodies that regulate nursing and midwifery in England and Wales.[7] Failure to comply with these standards can thus become a matter for the courts.

Examples[edit]

For example, a lay member of the public should not be held responsible for failing to act to save a car crash victim because they could not give an appropriate emergency treatment, though, they are responsible for attempting to get help for the victim. This is because they do not have the relevant knowledge and experience. In contrast, a fully trained doctor (with the correct equipment) would be capable of making the correct diagnosis and carrying out appropriate procedures. Failure of a doctor to help at all in such a situation would generally be regarded as negligent and unethical. Though, if a doctor helps and makes a mistake that is considered negligent and unethical, there could be egregious repercussions. An untrained person would only be considered to be negligent for failing to act if they did nothing at all to help and is protected by the "Good Samaritan" laws if they unintentionally caused more damage and possible loss of life.

A business may approach a professional engineer to certify the safety of a project which is not safe. While one engineer may refuse to certify the project on moral grounds, the business may find a less scrupulous engineer who will be prepared to certify the project for a bribe, thus saving the business the expense of redesigning.[8]

Some corporations have tried to burnish their ethical image by creating whistle-blower protections, such as anonymity. In the case of Citi, they call this the "Ethics Hotline",[9] though it is unclear whether firms such as Citi take offences reported to these hotlines seriously or not.

Separatism[edit]

On a theoretical level, there is debate as to whether an ethical code for a profession should be consistent with the requirements of morality governing the public. Separatists argue that professions should be allowed to go beyond such confines when they judge it necessary. This is because they are trained to produce certain outcomes which may take moral precedence over other functions of society.[10]: 282  For example, it could be argued that a doctor may lie to a patient about the severity of his or her condition if there is reason to believe that telling the patient would cause so much distress that it would be detrimental to his or her health. This would be a disrespect of the patient's autonomy, as it denies the patient information that could have a great impact on his or her life. This would generally be seen as morally wrong. However, if the end of improving and maintaining health is given a moral priority in society, then it may be justifiable to contravene other moral demands in order to meet this goal.[10]: 284  Separatism is based on a relativist conception of morality that there can be different, equally valid, moral codes that apply to different sections of society and differences in codes between societies. If moral universalism is ascribed to, then this would be inconsistent with the view that professions can have a different moral code, as the universalist holds that there is only one valid moral code for all.[10]: 285 

Student ethics[edit]

As attending college after high school graduation becomes a standard in the lives of young people, colleges and universities are becoming more business-like in their expectations of the students. Although people have differing opinions about if it is effective, surveys state that it is the overall goal of the university administrators.[11] Setting up a business-like atmosphere helps students get adjusted from a more relaxed nature, like high school, towards what will be expected of them in the business world upon graduating from college.

Codes of conduct[edit]

Codes of conduct, such as the St. Xavier Code of Conduct, are becoming more of a staple in the academic lives of students.[12] While some of these rules are based solely on academics others are more in depth than in previous years, such as, detailing the level of respect expected towards staff and gambling.

Not only do codes of conduct apply while attending the schools at home, but also while studying abroad. Schools also implement a code of conduct for international study abroad programs which carry over many of the same rules found in most student handbooks.[13]

See also[edit]

Ethical code

Business ethics

Engineering ethics

Legal ethics

Medical ethics

Nursing ethics

Outline of ethics

Professional abuse

Professional boundaries

Professional negligence in English Law

Professional responsibility

References[edit]

^ Royal Institute of British Architects - Code of professional conduct Archived 2013-06-18 at the Wayback Machine

^ "Professionalism and Ethics" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-07-05.

^ Ruth Chadwick (1998). Professional Ethics. In E. Craig (Ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. London: Routledge. Retrieved October 20, 2006, from https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/professional-ethics/v-1

^ Professional and Ethical Standards Archived 2011-12-16 at the Wayback Machine

^ Margaret Brazier, ‘’Medicine, Patients and the Law’’, Penguin, 1987 page 147

^ Rose, Neil (30 November 2023). "Some lawyers' conduct poses "significant risk to the rule of law"". Legal Futures: Market Intelligence for Law Firms of the Future. Retrieved 2 December 2023.

^ The Bristol Royal Infirmary inquiry-Professional regulation - nursing: the UKCC Archived 2012-07-29 at archive.today

^ Michael Davis, ‘Thinking like an Engineer’ in Philosophy and Public Affairs, 20.2 (1991) page 158

^ "Citi | Investor Relations | Ethics Hotline". www.citigroup.com. Retrieved 2020-06-15.

^ a b c Gewirth, Alan (Jan 1986). "Professional Ethics: The Separatist Thesis". Ethics. 96 (2): 282–300. doi:10.1086/292747. JSTOR 2381378. S2CID 143777363.

^ "Are Colleges Preparing Students For The Workplace". 26 February 2014.

^ "SXU Code of Conduct". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.

^ "Student Conduct". Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-09-27.

Further reading[edit]

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Professionalism

Values, morals, and ethics. Retrieved August 16, 2009,

Joseph, J. (2007). Ethics in the Workplace. Retrieved August 16, 2009

Walker, Evelyn, and Perry Deane Young (1986). A Killing Cure. New York: H. Holt and Co. xiv, 338 p. N.B.: Explanatory subtitle on book's dust cover: One Woman's True Account of Sexual and Drug Abuse and Near Death at the Hands of Her Psychiatrist. Without ISBN

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Nicomachean Ethics (c. 322 BC)

Ethics (Spinoza) (1677)

A Treatise of Human Nature (1740)

The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759)

Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785)

Critique of Practical Reason (1788)

Elements of the Philosophy of Right (1820)

Either/Or (1843)

Utilitarianism (1861)

Beyond Good and Evil (1886)

On the Genealogy of Morality (1887)

Principia Ethica (1903)

Ethics (Moore) (1912)

A Theory of Justice (1971)

Animal Liberation (1975)

Practical Ethics (1979)

After Virtue (1981)

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Professional Ethics: Origins, Applications, and Developments | The Oxford Handbook of Professional Service Firms | Oxford Academic

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The Oxford Handbook of Professional Service Firms

Laura Empson (ed.)

et al.

https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199682393.001.0001

Published:

2015

Online ISBN:

9780191762864

Print ISBN:

9780199682393

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Contents

Expand

Front Matter

Copyright Page

Notes

Notes

Acknowledgments

Notes

Notes

List of Figures

Notes

Notes

List of Tables

Notes

Notes

List of Contributors

Notes

Notes

1

Researching Professional Service Firms: An Introduction and Overview

Notes

Notes

Collapse

Part I

Professional Service Firms in Context

2

Theoretical Perspectives on the Professions

Notes

Notes

3

Dynamics of Regulation of Professional Service Firms: National and Transnational Developments

Notes

Notes

4

Internationalization of Professional Service Firms: Drivers, Forms, and Outcomes

Notes

Notes

5

Organizations and Occupations: Towards Hybrid Professionalism in Professional Service Firms?

Notes

Notes

Collapse

6

Professional Ethics: Origins, Applications, and Developments

6.1

Introduction

6.1

Introduction

6.2

Theoretical and Applied Ethics

6.2

Theoretical and Applied Ethics

Expand

6.3

Professional Ethics: Codes, Autonomy, and Gatekeepers

6.3

Professional Ethics: Codes, Autonomy, and Gatekeepers

6.3.1

Codes of Ethics

6.3.1

Codes of Ethics

6.3.2

Autonomy

6.3.2

Autonomy

6.3.3

Gatekeepers

6.3.3

Gatekeepers

6.4

The Autonomous Professional in Non-Professional Organizations

6.4

The Autonomous Professional in Non-Professional Organizations

6.5

Professional Ethics in Professional Service Firms

6.5

Professional Ethics in Professional Service Firms

6.6

Conclusions

6.6

Conclusions

Note

Note

Notes

References

References

Notes

Notes

Notes

7

Sources of Homogeneity and Heterogeneity across Professional Services

Notes

Notes

Notes

Expand

Part II

Professional Service Firms: Management and Organization

8

Leadership and Professionals: Multiple Manifestations of Influence in Professional Service Firms

Notes

Notes

9

Governance in Professional Service Firms: From Structural and Cultural to Legal Normative Views

Notes

Notes

10

Strategy and Strategic Alignment in Professional Service Firms

Notes

Notes

11

Service Innovation in Professional Service Firms: A Review and Future Research Directions

Notes

Notes

12

Entrepreneurship and Professional Service Firms

Notes

Notes

13

Marketing and Reputation within Professional Service Firms

Notes

Notes

14

Client Relationships in Professional Service Firms

Notes

Notes

15

Outsourcing and Offshoring of Professional Services

Notes

Notes

Notes

Expand

Part III

Professional Service Firms: Individuals and Interactions

16

Interplay of Professional, Bureaucratic, and Entrepreneurial Career Forms in Professional Service Firms

Notes

Notes

17

Teamwork and Collaboration in Professional Service Firms: Evolution, Challenges, and Opportunities

Notes

Notes

18

Professional Service Firms and Identity

Notes

Notes

19

Knowledge and Learning in Professional Service Firms

Notes

Notes

20

Diversity and Inclusion in Professional Service Firms

Notes

Notes

21

Strategic Human Resource Management and Performance Management in Professional Service Firms

Notes

Notes

Notes

Expand

End Matter

Index

Notes

Notes

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Chapter

6

Professional Ethics: Origins, Applications, and Developments

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Hugh Gunz,

Hugh Gunz

Institute for Management and Innovation, University of Toronto Mississauga

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Hugh Gunz, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sally Gunz,

Sally Gunz

School of Accounting and Finance, University of Waterloo

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Sally Gunz is Professor of Business Law and Professional Ethics in the School of Accounting and Finance, University of Waterloo, Canada. Her primary research interests centre around the legal and ethical responsibilities of professionals and, increasingly, how professionals make ethical decisions, and what factors impact those decisions. She has studied professionals in both employed and private practice settings. She is the author of The New Corporate Counsel (Carswell: 1991) and several academic studies relating to in-house lawyers, lawyers in private practice, accountants and actuaries. She is a past-President of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business and the former director of the Centre for Accounting Ethics.

Ronit Dinovitzer

Ronit Dinovitzer

Sociology, University of Toronto Mississauga

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Ronit Dinovitzer is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto, where she is cross appointed to the Institute for Management and Innovation. She is also a Faculty Fellow at the American Bar Foundation in Chicago, where she is Co-Director of the Research Group on Legal Diversity, and she is an Affiliated Faculty in Harvard’s Program on the Legal Profession. As a sociologist of the professions her research focuses on the social organization of lawyers, the role of labor markets, and the effects of culture on professional work. Recent projects include the “After the JD” study, the first national longitudinal study of law graduates in the US, the “Law and Beyond” Study, the first national study of law graduates in Canada, and a Canadian study on Ethics, the Professional Service Firm and Corporate Governance (with Hugh and Sally Gunz).

https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199682393.013.23

Pages

113–134

Published:

05 October 2015

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Gunz, Hugh, Sally Gunz, and Ronit Dinovitzer, 'Professional Ethics: Origins, Applications, and Developments', in Laura Empson, and others (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Professional Service Firms (2015; online edn, Oxford Academic, 5 Oct. 2015), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199682393.013.23, accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

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Abstract

This chapter introduces professional ethics as a specific example of applied or practical ethics. The authors provide a short review of the literature on theoretical and applied ethics in order to give context for the subsequent discussion. They examine three foundational concepts of professional ethics: codes adopted by professional bodies, professional autonomy, and the contested role of gatekeeper. Next, the authors consider ethical pressures experienced by professionals in the non-professional organization (NPO), and then the Professional Service Firm (PSF). Here the authors compare the pressure exerted by employer and clients and examine how so-called “client capture” can become a complex phenomenon when both client and professional are corporate entities. Finally, the chapter considers the challenges for the study of ethics in the PSF highlighted by this account.

Keywords:

professional service firm, ethics, professional ethics, client capture, ethical code, autonomy, gatekeeper

Subject

Organizational Theory and Behaviour

Business Ethics

Business and Management

Series

Oxford Handbooks

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Professional Ethics - Ethics Unwrapped

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Professional Ethics

Professionals work in a wide variety of settings and across many different industries including business, science, medicine, education, art, and public service.

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Overview

Many professions have Codes of Conduct that specify ethical behavior and expectations particular to that industry. In addition, professionals must make ethical judgments in their area of specialty that fall outside their specific Code of Conduct.

The resources in this section offer insights that apply to a wide range of professionals as they seek to develop standards of ethical decision-making and behavior in their careers. Often, professionals need to apply moral reasoning to their interactions with co-workers, clients, and the general public to solve problems that arise in their work. Professionals also need to be on lookout for social and organizational pressures and situational factors that could cause them to err, unknowingly, in their ethical judgments and actions.

No profession is free from ethical dilemmas. All professionals will face ethical issues regardless of their career trajectory or the role they play within an organization. While Codes of Conduct are essential, and a good starting point for ethical conduct, they are no substitute for a well-rounded education in behavioral and applied ethics.

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Teaching Notes

Begin by viewing the “Start Here” videos. They introduce key topics that commonly emerge in our careers, such as making ethical decisions based on the role we’re playing at work. The four-part video, Being Your Best Self, describes the four components of ethical decision-making and action. To help strengthen ethical decision-making skills, watch the behavioral ethics videos in the “Additional Videos” section to learn about the psychological biases that can often lead to making poor choices.

Read through these videos’ teaching notes for details and related ethics concepts. Watch the “Related Videos” and/or read the related Case Study. The video’s “Additional Resources” offer further reading and a bibliography.

To use these resources in the classroom, show a video in class, assign a video to watch outside of class, or embed a video in an online learning module such as Canvas. Then, prompt conversation in class to encourage peer-to-peer learning. Ask students to answer the video’s “Discussion Questions,” and to reflect on the ideas and issues raised by the students in the video. How do their experiences align? How do they differ? The videos also make good writing prompts. Ask students to watch a video and apply the ethics concept to course content.

The case studies offer examples of professionals facing tough ethical decisions or ethically questionable situations in their careers in teaching, science, politics, and social services. Cases are an effective way to introduce ethics topics, and for people to learn how to spot ethical issues.

Select a case study from the Cases Series or find one in the “Additional Cases” section that resonates with your industry or profession. Then, reason through the ethical dimensions presented, and sketch the ethical decision-making process outlined by the case. Challenge yourself (and/or your team at work) to develop strategies to avoid these ethical pitfalls. Watch the case study’s “Related Videos” and “Related Terms” for further understanding.

To use the case studies in the classroom, ask students to read a video’s “Case Study” and answer the case study “Discussion Questions.” Then, follow the strategy outlined in the previous paragraph, challenging students to develop strategies to avoid the ethical pitfalls presented in the case.

Ethics Unwrapped blogs are also useful prompts to engage colleagues or students in discussions about ethics. Learning about ethics in the context of real-world (often current) events can enliven conversation and make ethics relevant and concrete. Share a blog in a meeting or class or post one to the company intranet or the class’s online learning module. To spur discussion, try to identify the ethical issues at hand and to name the ethics concepts related to the blog (or current event in the news). Dig more deeply into the topic using the Additional Resources listed at the end of the blog post.

Remember to review video, case study, and blogs’ relevant glossary terms. In this way, you will become familiar with all the ethics concepts contained in these material. Share this vocabulary with your colleagues or students, and use it to expand and enrich ethics and leadership conversations. To dive deeper in the glossary, watch “Related” glossary videos.

Many of the concepts covered in Ethics Unwrapped operate in tandem with each other. As you watch more videos, you will become more fluent in ethics and see the interrelatedness of ethics concepts more readily. You also will be able to spot ethical issues more easily – at least, that is the hope! It will also be easier to express your ideas and thoughts about what is and isn’t ethical and why. Hopefully, you will also come to realize the interconnectedness of ethics and leadership, and the essential role ethics plays in developing solid leadership skills that can advance your professional career.

 

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Additional Videos

Self-serving Bias

Moral Equilibrium

Conflict of Interest

In It To Win: The Jack Abramoff Story

In It To Win: Jack & Framing

In It To Win: Jack & Rationalizations

In It To Win: Jack & Self-Serving Bias

In It To Win: Jack & Role Morality

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Obedience to Authority

Loss Aversion

Intro to Behavioral Ethics

Moral Muteness

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Being Your Best Self, Part 1: Moral Awareness

Being Your Best Self, Part 2: Moral Decision Making

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Managing yourself

How to Develop a Strong Work Ethic

Hiring managers want to see your motivation, can-do attitude, and dedication.

by

Tutti Taygerly

by

Tutti Taygerly

September 14, 2022

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Summary.   

In our early career years, it can be challenging to figure out what behaviors are and are not acceptable in different professional environments. Employers are now expecting more of entry-level workers and they want to see that you have good work ethic. So what is work ethic?

Work ethic refers to a set of moral principles, values, and attitudes around how to act at work. It often surrounds what behaviors are commonly acceptable and appropriate (or not).

Qualities like reliability, productivity, ownership and team support all demonstrate professional integrity, or a strong commitment to ethical behavior at work. In contrast, low-quality work, tardiness, or lack of attention to details demonstrates bad work ethic.

If you’re new to the workplace, a good way to start is by observing. Pay attention to how your coworkers behave in meetings to gain a better understanding of their “etiquette,” as well as the communication styles of different people and teams. Another essential part of building good work ethic is adopting a “do it like you own it” attitude. You can do this by being proactive in small, but powerful, ways.

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Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here.

Have you ever wondered about how to behave appropriately at work? Throughout your career, and especially in the early years, it’s challenging to figure out what behaviors and attitudes are and are not acceptable in different professional environments. The more you traverse companies and industries, the clearer your understanding will become. When you’re just starting out, though, it can be hard to pin down these behaviors.

Read more on Managing yourself

or related topics

Emotional intelligence and Personal growth and transformation

Tutti Taygerly is a leadership and executive coach with 20+ years of design experience across large companies, design agencies and startups.

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Ethical practice and the role of people professionals | Factsheets | CIPD

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Ethical practice and the role of people professionals

Ethical practice and the role of people professionals

Explores the role people professionals play in applying ethical values to organisational practice

Factsheet

27 Nov, 2023

All locations

Ethical practice

Scandals involving workplace harassment and poor treatment of workers have highlighted what can happen when ethics aren’t integral to the way an organisation operates. Having unique access to staff and opportunities to influence an organisation’s strategy and the way it manages its workforce; people professionals are uniquely placed within an organisation. They can support the embedding of principled decision-making into daily practice. Ethics are at the heart of professionalism. To create cultures of transparency and trust, practitioners should demonstrate strong standards of integrity when advising business leaders.

This factsheet explores what ethical practice means and why it matters in an organisational context. It outlines the trade-offs involved in upholding ethical values and the challenges faced by people professionals. Finally, it looks at the profession’s role in creating ethical organisational cultures.

On this page

What is ethical practice in organisations?

Why is ethical practice important?

Establishing an ethical culture

Embedding ethics

The role of people professionals

Communicating ethics

Key systems

Assessing and reinforcing ethical behaviours

Useful contacts and further reading

What is ethical practice in organisations?

Ethical practice is the application of ethical values to organisational behaviour. It applies in all aspects of organisational conduct, including corporate governance, employment practices, sales techniques, stakeholder relations, accounting practices, and issues of product and corporate responsibility. It’s about the discretionary decisions that organisations and the people who work for them make, and transparency with all stakeholders about those decisions. Are colleagues treated with dignity and respect? Are customers treated fairly? Does the organisation acknowledge its responsibilities to wider society?

People management decisions often involve trade-offs between different needs or priorities. Being aware of and understanding the outcomes of alternative courses of action will enable people managers to make sound judgements. Transparency means being open with employees and stakeholders about decisions and the rationale behind them. Such communication builds trust.

Our ethical-decision making research discusses eight different perspectives or ‘lenses’ to consider when making workplace decisions. These expand on ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ judgements giving alternative ways of seeing a situation. For example, the ‘fairness’ lens considers that everyone should be able to agree to a decision regardless of their place in an organisation, and the ‘handing down’ lens considers responsibilities to conserve and maintain. The research informed our principles for the profession, reflected in our Profession Map which has ethical practice as a core behaviour.

Why is ethical practice important?

Reputations are based not only on an organisation’s delivery of its products and services, but on how it values its relationships with its staff and stakeholders, and how it establishes responsibility and accountability towards them. Demonstrable ethical practice is not only an effective insurance policy, mitigating risk; it gives organisations competitive advantage. An organisation's success depends on trustful relationships with employees, customers, suppliers and the community.

Serious risks can occur when an organisation’s culture is at odds with its stated ethical values. The ‘say/do gap’ – where leaders say one thing but do another – is harmful to their credibility and leaves workers cynical and disengaged. As a result, the organisation is susceptible to ethical lapses and damage to its reputation. Leaders should be clear on what the organisation’s ethical values are, demonstrate them day-to-day, and set expectations that employees reflect these values in their own behaviours. In our Purposeful leadership report, we investigate what business ethics means for leaders at various levels of the organisational hierarchy, and the extent to which these leaders can help organisations articulate and embed ethical values. 

Establishing an ethical culture

The term ‘ethical culture’ is about how ethical values are brought to life in the day-to-day running of the organisation. A company may have ‘excellence’ as a value, but how is excellence defined in that organisation? How is it achieved? Is it with integrity, or is it at the expense, for example, of child labour or poor working conditions?

An organisation's ethical climate also matters. It's about the social norms and values that outline what ‘the right behaviour’ is and how ethics should guide behaviour. Ethical climate is influenced by policies and practices, meaning businesses need to pay attention to management practices and how they shape the ethical environment. Find out more about organisational culture and climate.

To operate ethically, an organisation needs an ethics programme to support and bring its values to life. This may be a formal or informal programme depending on the size of the organisation, but it should include a code of ethics as the key element. If values are a compass to guide behaviour at work, then a code of ethics is the map that helps people navigate ethical dilemmas in the workplace. When done well, a code articulates expected behaviours and brings the organisation’s values to life – and isn’t seen just as a compliance-driven initiative. To understand expectations and ensure they are achievable, staff need guidance from their leaders. And once a code of ethics is launched, organisations shouldn’t stop ethics activities as valuable insights can be fed back from staff, customers and stakeholders.

Listen to our Creating ethical workplaces podcast which explores how organisations can support ethical behaviour through their people management practices.

Embedding ethics

Core values exist in most organisations, whether they’ve been consciously created or left to chance, and whether or not they are formally articulated. An organisation’s values provide a framework for the company’s culture and decision-making.

In the rapidly changing world of work, there is not always a ‘golden rule’ or ‘best practice’ to help practitioners navigate workplace dilemmas. The ability to exercise situational judgement is critical to making the best possible decisions, by drawing on both knowledge and sensitivity to the ethical choices.

Ethical dilemmas can arise in many situations and at all levels within organisations, from those related to strategy and policy in the boardroom to those faced by managers or individuals in their daily work. While the boundaries of right and wrong as defined in law are clear, behaving ethically is discretionary. Dilemmas arise when the best choice is not clear; for example, when someone is faced with a choice between the least wrong options, or when the needs of different stakeholders are in conflict.

To operate ethically, an organisation needs an ethics programme to support and bring its values to life. This may be a formal or informal depending on the size of the organisation, but it should include a code of ethics. If values are a compass to guide behaviour at work, then a code of ethics is the map that helps people navigate workplace ethical dilemmas. Done well, a code articulates expected behaviours and isn’t seen just as a compliance-driven initiative. To support embedding a code, organisations should facilitate continued activities and communications with staff, using valuable insights from staff, customers and stakeholders.

Some organisations provide individuals with 'ethical tests' to help them make decisions and navigate ethical values and principles. These might involve a series of questions, such as:

Is it consistent with the organisation's code of ethics?

How would I feel about it being on the front page of tomorrow's newspapers?

Organisations should articulate what ethical principles mean in day-to-day practice and support employees in embracing them, as well as working with individuals to recognise when an ethical dilemma arises and how to deal with it. Our Ethics at work employer's guide includes a ‘Transparent decision making’ flowchart that can be shared with the workforce.

The role of people professionals

People professionals can often be blamed for organisational decisions or outcomes that are less favourable, such as redundancy programmes or having to carry out dismissals. CIPD members are required to adhere to our Code of Conduct & Ethics but it’s important to understand that in executing a policy or process on behalf of an organisation, a member would not usually breach the Code. We advise practitioners to ensure transparency in decisions and be clear about their role and scope in employment matters.

In 2019, our research found that while HR professionals want to make ethical decisions, there’s often a gap between that ambition and actual practice. Practitioners sometimes feel they must compromise on their principles because they feel under pressure from the business. Since the remit and identity of HR has been closely tied to organisational goals, the ability of people professionals to operate independently, with the power to challenge organisational decisions when they violate ethical values, has been questioned.

Our 2021 People Profession survey found that most people professionals said they would not compromise their professional principles in their work. However, meeting business needs and pressure from senior stakeholders are areas where they are more likely to compromise. Developing a strong sense of purpose and identification with the people profession can equip practitioners with the courage to challenge unethical practice.

CIPD members facing challenges can use our discussion forum Workplace dilemmas: in confidence to post anonymously and seek valuable guidance and peer support from the member community.

There's a checklist on addressing the ethical climate of your organisation in our Ethics at work employer's guide.

Communicating ethics

Communicating the organisation’s values indicates a long-term strategic commitment to building and maintaining an ethical culture. Regular internal communications should regularly refer to the values and ethical expectations. Where there has been an ethical lapse or scandal, communications can help rebuild internal trust by revitalising the commitment to behaving ethically. But it needs care to avoid the impression that ‘everyone is doing it’ or suggesting unethical behaviour is the norm in the organisation.

Where different cultures have merged (for example, in an acquisition), internal communications of ethical values can help develop cohesion, consistency in behaviours, and common purpose. Global companies will find this approach helpful as it supports the task of uniting different cultures in the corporation behind one set of values. A useful way to do this is to nominate ethics ambassadors and obtain case studies from each business area.

If an organisation has an ethical code, it should be regularly reviewed and interactively discussed with employees. It shouldn’t just be covered during induction. Talking internally about ethical values will also enhance the employer brand.

Key systems

The people profession is responsible for key systems and processes underpinning the effective delivery of an organisation’s ethics messages. With its expertise in change management and internal communications, and by working in partnership with those responsible for ethical performance within their organisation, the profession can help to integrate ethics into the following organisational processes:

Recruitment and induction.

Equality, diversity and inclusion.

Learning and development.

Performance management.

Reward, including bonuses and incentives.

Our Ethics at work employer’s guide has sections on job design, and targets and reward.

People professionals can also introduce specific activities to familiarise staff with ethical issues, for example anti-bribery, modern slavery and data protection training.

Finally, people professionals should ensure they understand the governance structure of the organisation and enable full transparency by implementing confidential ways for employees to raise concerns. There’s a ‘Speaking Up’ checklist in our Ethics at work employer’s guide and more on employee voice in our factsheet.

Assessing and reinforcing ethical behaviours

Our research reviewing unethical workplace behaviour highlights the key risk factors. By understanding better what influences people’s decision-making and behaviour, businesses can take evidence-based action to tackle it. This includes people management practices like reward and job design. There’s practical guidance on how to promote ethical behaviours in our Ethics at work employer’s guide.

As well as establishing and communicating ethical values, organisations should assess and reward ethical behaviours. Performance management requires commitment to organisational ethical values, and performance reviews should look for ways in which employees and their departments have supported these values. For example, how have difficult decisions been made? As with other performance measures, these can demonstrate how staff have contributed to the organisation’s ethical performance and can be included in decisions regarding bonuses or promotions.

Developing a reward system which promotes ethical behaviours is another way to encourage and reinforce expectations. This could include ethics awards, or remuneration and promotion based on ethical behaviours.

Assessing employees’ application of ethical values can encourage them to behave ethically, as well as monitoring the effectiveness of the ethics programme to see where further training should be focused. People professionals and senior leaders should agree on the extent to which ethics are core expectations of employees and any organisation’s representatives, and what consequences might arise if those ethics are not upheld.

Useful contacts and further reading

Contacts

Institute of Business Ethics

Institute of Business Ethics - Speak Up Toolkit

Business in the Community

The B Team

The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues

Institute for Business in Society - 'Giving Voices to Values' Program

TED talk - The surprising ingredient that makes businesses work better by Marco Alverà

Books and reports

Epstein, M. and Hanson, K. (2021) Rotten: why corporate misconduct continues and what to do about it. Los Alton, CA: Lanark Press.

Francis, R. and Murfey, G. (2015) Global business ethics. 3rd ed. London: Kogan Page.

Institute of Business Ethics (2014) The collaboration between the ethics function and HR. Briefing 40. London: IBE.

Leigh, A. (2013) Ethical leadership. London: Kogan Page

Robinson, S. and Dowson, P. (2012) Business ethics in practice. London: Kogan Page.

Thompson, A., Maile, A. with Russell, T. (2020) Bringing character to life: virtues in business and finance. Birmingham: University of Birmingham, The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.

Visit the CIPD and Kogan Page Bookshop to see all our priced publications currently in print.

Journal articles

Bashford, S. (2021) Life isn't fair – but your workplace can be. People Management (online). 28 January.

Epley, N. and Kumar, A. (2019) How to design an ethical organization. Harvard Business Review. May-June. Reviewed in Bitesize research.

Grave, K. (2018) HR must speak up about ethics. People Management (online). 10 September.

Karlsson, P-O., Aguirre, D. and Rivera, K. (2017) Are CEOs less ethical than in the past? Why more chief executives are losing their jobs after scandals and corporate misconduct. Strategy + Business. Issue 87, Summer. Reviewed in Bitesize research.

Sharp, R. (2019) Ethics and HR. HR Magazine. April. Reviewed in Bitesize research.

CIPD members can use our online journals to find articles from over 300 journal titles relevant to HR.

Members and People Management subscribers can read articles on the People Management website.

This factsheet was last updated by Amy Bosley, Research Adviser, CIPD

Amy’s research focuses on organisational design and development and changing people functions and operating models. Before her research career, Amy worked as an HR practitioner during which time she earned a master’s degree in Human Resource Management. 

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Encyclopedia of Sustainable Management pp 2687–2691Cite as

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Encyclopedia of Sustainable Management

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Professional Ethics

Azhar Kazmi7 

Reference work entry

First Online: 22 November 2023

17 Accesses

Synonyms

Applied ethics; Business conduct; Business etiquette; Professional behavior; Professional code of ethics; Professional conduct; Professional etiquette; Professional standards; Work ethics

Definition/Description

The idea of professional ethics is built on the twin concepts of profession and ethics. Profession is any work involving superior skills based on specialized knowledge and training. Ethics is the basis for understanding what is right and wrong. Applying the idea of right and wrong to the conduct of a profession rests on professional ethics. In simpler words, practicing a profession in such a manner that the practitioner has an innate sense of right and wrong is following the professional ethics of any type of work. Professional ethics is concerned with the ethical issues and challenges related to professions such as medicine and law. The professional ethics are in the form of principles, guidelines, and rules. The members of the profession are organized in the form of a...

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ReferencesCenter for the Study of Ethics in the Professions, Illinois Institute of Technology (n.d.). https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/efai/is-ai-ethics-special/professional-codes-of-ethics/Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.iep.utm.edu/ethics/Project on Ethics in Artificial Intelligence at University of Oxford. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://ethics.iit.edu/teaching/professional-ethicsSpace Future. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/a_code_of_ethics_and_standards_for_lunar_development_and_outer_space_commerce.shtmlWMA International Code of Medical Ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-international-code-of-medical-ethics/Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsManagement and Marketing, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi ArabiaAzhar KazmiAuthorsAzhar KazmiView author publicationsYou can also search for this author in

PubMed Google ScholarEditor informationEditors and AffiliationsGuildhall Faculty of Business and Law London Metropolitan University, London Metropolitan University, London, UKSamuel O. Idowu BFH - Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandRené Schmidpeter College of Business, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USANicholas Capaldi International Training Centre of the IL, International Labor Organization, Turin, ItalyLiangrong Zu Department of Economics, Society and Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, ItalyMara Del Baldo Instituto Politécnico da Guarda, Guarda, PortugalRute Abreu Section Editor informationBusiness Faculty, International Business and Trade Department, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, TurkeyBerna Kirkulak-UludagRights and permissionsReprints and permissionsCopyright information© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AGAbout this entryCite this entryKazmi, A. (2023). Professional Ethics.

In: Idowu, S.O., Schmidpeter, R., Capaldi, N., Zu, L., Del Baldo, M., Abreu, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sustainable Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25984-5_85Download citation.RIS.ENW.BIBDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25984-5_85Published: 22 November 2023

Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

Print ISBN: 978-3-031-25983-8

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Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct

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Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

Ethics

Cite this

American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct (2002, amended effective June 1, 2010, and January 1, 2017). http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.html

Comment:

Including 2010 and 2016 Amendments

Effective date June 1, 2003 with amendments effective June 1, 2010 and January 1, 2017. Copyright © 2017 American Psychological Association. All rights reserved.

expand all

Introduction and Applicability

The American Psychological Association's (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (hereinafter referred to as the Ethics Code) consists of an Introduction, a Preamble, five General Principles (A-E) and specific Ethical Standards. The Introduction discusses the intent, organization, procedural considerations, and scope of application of the Ethics Code. The Preamble and General Principles are aspirational goals to guide psychologists toward the highest ideals of psychology. Although the Preamble and General Principles are not themselves enforceable rules, they should be considered by psychologists in arriving at an ethical course of action. The Ethical Standards set forth enforceable rules for conduct as psychologists. Most of the Ethical Standards are written broadly, in order to apply to psychologists in varied roles, although the application of an Ethical Standard may vary depending on the context. The Ethical Standards are not exhaustive. The fact that a given conduct is not specifically addressed by an Ethical Standard does not mean that it is necessarily either ethical or unethical.

This Ethics Code applies only to psychologists' activities that are part of their scientific, educational, or professional roles as psychologists. Areas covered include but are not limited to the clinical, counseling, and school practice of psychology; research; teaching; supervision of trainees; public service; policy development; social intervention; development of assessment instruments; conducting assessments; educational counseling; organizational consulting; forensic activities; program design and evaluation; and administration. This Ethics Code applies to these activities across a variety of contexts, such as in person, postal, telephone, Internet, and other electronic transmissions. These activities shall be distinguished from the purely private conduct of psychologists, which is not within the purview of the Ethics Code.

Membership in the APA commits members and student affiliates to comply with the standards of the APA Ethics Code and to the rules and procedures used to enforce them. Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an Ethical Standard is not itself a defense to a charge of unethical conduct.

The procedures for filing, investigating, and resolving complaints of unethical conduct are described in the current Rules and Procedures of the APA Ethics Committee. APA may impose sanctions on its members for violations of the standards of the Ethics Code, including termination of APA membership, and may notify other bodies and individuals of its actions. Actions that violate the standards of the Ethics Code may also lead to the imposition of sanctions on psychologists or students whether or not they are APA members by bodies other than APA, including state psychological associations, other professional groups, psychology boards, other state or federal agencies, and payors for health services. In addition, APA may take action against a member after his or her conviction of a felony, expulsion or suspension from an affiliated state psychological association, or suspension or loss of licensure. When the sanction to be imposed by APA is less than expulsion, the 2001 Rules and Procedures do not guarantee an opportunity for an in-person hearing, but generally provide that complaints will be resolved only on the basis of a submitted record.

The Ethics Code is intended to provide guidance for psychologists and standards of professional conduct that can be applied by the APA and by other bodies that choose to adopt them. The Ethics Code is not intended to be a basis of civil liability. Whether a psychologist has violated the Ethics Code standards does not by itself determine whether the psychologist is legally liable in a court action, whether a contract is enforceable, or whether other legal consequences occur.

The modifiers used in some of the standards of this Ethics Code (e.g., reasonably, appropriate, potentially) are included in the standards when they would (1) allow professional judgment on the part of psychologists, (2) eliminate injustice or inequality that would occur without the modifier, (3) ensure applicability across the broad range of activities conducted by psychologists, or (4) guard against a set of rigid rules that might be quickly outdated. As used in this Ethics Code, the term reasonable means the prevailing professional judgment of psychologists engaged in similar activities in similar circumstances, given the knowledge the psychologist had or should have had at the time.

In the process of making decisions regarding their professional behavior, psychologists must consider this Ethics Code in addition to applicable laws and psychology board regulations. In applying the Ethics Code to their professional work, psychologists may consider other materials and guidelines that have been adopted or endorsed by scientific and professional psychological organizations and the dictates of their own conscience, as well as consult with others within the field. If this Ethics Code establishes a higher standard of conduct than is required by law, psychologists must meet the higher ethical standard. If psychologists' ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations, or other governing legal authority, psychologists make known their commitment to this Ethics Code and take steps to resolve the conflict in a responsible manner in keeping with basic principles of human rights.

Preamble

Psychologists are committed to increasing scientific and professional knowledge of behavior and people's understanding of themselves and others and to the use of such knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, organizations, and society. Psychologists respect and protect civil and human rights and the central importance of freedom of inquiry and expression in research, teaching, and publication. They strive to help the public in developing informed judgments and choices concerning human behavior. In doing so, they perform many roles, such as researcher, educator, diagnostician, therapist, supervisor, consultant, administrator, social interventionist, and expert witness. This Ethics Code provides a common set of principles and standards upon which psychologists build their professional and scientific work.

This Ethics Code is intended to provide specific standards to cover most situations encountered by psychologists. It has as its goals the welfare and protection of the individuals and groups with whom psychologists work and the education of members, students, and the public regarding ethical standards of the discipline.

The development of a dynamic set of ethical standards for psychologists' work-related conduct requires a personal commitment and lifelong effort to act ethically; to encourage ethical behavior by students, supervisees, employees, and colleagues; and to consult with others concerning ethical problems.

General Principles

This section consists of General Principles. General Principles, as opposed to Ethical Standards, are aspirational in nature. Their intent is to guide and inspire psychologists toward the very highest ethical ideals of the profession. General Principles, in contrast to Ethical Standards, do not represent obligations and should not form the basis for imposing sanctions. Relying upon General Principles for either of these reasons distorts both their meaning and purpose.

Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence

Psychologists strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm. In their professional actions, psychologists seek to safeguard the welfare and rights of those with whom they interact professionally and other affected persons, and the welfare of animal subjects of research. When conflicts occur among psychologists' obligations or concerns, they attempt to resolve these conflicts in a responsible fashion that avoids or minimizes harm. Because psychologists' scientific and professional judgments and actions may affect the lives of others, they are alert to and guard against personal, financial, social, organizational, or political factors that might lead to misuse of their influence. Psychologists strive to be aware of the possible effect of their own physical and mental health on their ability to help those with whom they work.

Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility

Psychologists establish relationships of trust with those with whom they work. They are aware of their professional and scientific responsibilities to society and to the specific communities in which they work. Psychologists uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify their professional roles and obligations, accept appropriate responsibility for their behavior, and seek to manage conflicts of interest that could lead to exploitation or harm. Psychologists consult with, refer to, or cooperate with other professionals and institutions to the extent needed to serve the best interests of those with whom they work. They are concerned about the ethical compliance of their colleagues' scientific and professional conduct. Psychologists strive to contribute a portion of their professional time for little or no compensation or personal advantage.

Principle C: Integrity

Psychologists seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology. In these activities psychologists do not steal, cheat or engage in fraud, subterfuge, or intentional misrepresentation of fact. Psychologists strive to keep their promises and to avoid unwise or unclear commitments. In situations in which deception may be ethically justifiable to maximize benefits and minimize harm, psychologists have a serious obligation to consider the need for, the possible consequences of, and their responsibility to correct any resulting mistrust or other harmful effects that arise from the use of such techniques.

Principle D: Justice

Psychologists recognize that fairness and justice entitle all persons to access to and benefit from the contributions of psychology and to equal quality in the processes, procedures, and services being conducted by psychologists. Psychologists exercise reasonable judgment and take precautions to ensure that their potential biases, the boundaries of their competence, and the limitations of their expertise do not lead to or condone unjust practices.

Principle E: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity

Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination. Psychologists are aware that special safeguards may be necessary to protect the rights and welfare of persons or communities whose vulnerabilities impair autonomous decision making. Psychologists are aware of and respect cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status, and consider these factors when working with members of such groups. Psychologists try to eliminate the effect on their work of biases based on those factors, and they do not knowingly participate in or condone activities of others based upon such prejudices.

Section 1: Resolving Ethical Issues

1.01 Misuse of Psychologists' Work

If psychologists learn of misuse or misrepresentation of their work, they take reasonable steps to correct or minimize the misuse or misrepresentation.

1.02 Conflicts Between Ethics and Law, Regulations, or Other Governing Legal Authority

If psychologists’ ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations, or other governing legal authority, psychologists clarify the nature of the conflict, make known their commitment to the Ethics Code, and take reasonable steps to resolve the conflict consistent with the General Principles and Ethical Standards of the Ethics Code. Under no circumstances may this standard be used to justify or defend violating human rights.

1.03 Conflicts Between Ethics and Organizational Demands

 

If the demands of an organization with which psychologists are affiliated or for whom they are working are in conflict with this Ethics Code, psychologists clarify the nature of the conflict, make known their commitment to the Ethics Code, and take reasonable steps to resolve the conflict consistent with the General Principles and Ethical Standards of the Ethics Code. Under no circumstances may this standard be used to justify or defend violating human rights.

1.04 Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations

When psychologists believe that there may have been an ethical violation by another psychologist, they attempt to resolve the issue by bringing it to the attention of that individual, if an informal resolution appears appropriate and the intervention does not violate any confidentiality rights that may be involved. (See also Standards

1.02, Conflicts Between Ethics and Law, Regulations, or Other Governing Legal Authority

, and

1.03, Conflicts Between Ethics and Organizational Demands

.)

1.05 Reporting Ethical Violations

If an apparent ethical violation has substantially harmed or is likely to substantially harm a person or organization and is not appropriate for informal resolution under Standard

1.04, Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations

, or is not resolved properly in that fashion, psychologists take further action appropriate to the situation. Such action might include referral to state or national committees on professional ethics, to state licensing boards, or to the appropriate institutional authorities. This standard does not apply when an intervention would violate confidentiality rights or when psychologists have been retained to review the work of another psychologist whose professional conduct is in question. (See also Standard

1.02, Conflicts Between Ethics and Law, Regulations, or Other Governing Legal Authority

.)

1.06 Cooperating with Ethics Committees

Psychologists cooperate in ethics investigations, proceedings, and resulting requirements of the APA or any affiliated state psychological association to which they belong. In doing so, they address any confidentiality issues. Failure to cooperate is itself an ethics violation. However, making a request for deferment of adjudication of an ethics complaint pending the outcome of litigation does not alone constitute noncooperation.

1.07 Improper Complaints

Psychologists do not file or encourage the filing of ethics complaints that are made with reckless disregard for or willful ignorance of facts that would disprove the allegation.

1.08 Unfair Discrimination Against Complainants and Respondents

Psychologists do not deny persons employment, advancement, admissions to academic or other programs, tenure, or promotion, based solely upon their having made or their being the subject of an ethics complaint. This does not preclude taking action based upon the outcome of such proceedings or considering other appropriate information.

Section 2: Competence

2.01 Boundaries of Competence

(a) Psychologists provide services, teach, and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience.

(b) Where scientific or professional knowledge in the discipline of psychology establishes that an understanding of factors associated with age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, or socioeconomic status is essential for effective implementation of their services or research, psychologists have or obtain the training, experience, consultation, or supervision necessary to ensure the competence of their services, or they make appropriate referrals, except as provided in Standard

2.02, Providing Services in Emergencies

.

(c) Psychologists planning to provide services, teach, or conduct research involving populations, areas, techniques, or technologies new to them undertake relevant education, training, supervised experience, consultation, or study.

(d) When psychologists are asked to provide services to individuals for whom appropriate mental health services are not available and for which psychologists have not obtained the competence necessary, psychologists with closely related prior training or experience may provide such services in order to ensure that services are not denied if they make a reasonable effort to obtain the competence required by using relevant research, training, consultation, or study.

(e) In those emerging areas in which generally recognized standards for preparatory training do not yet exist, psychologists nevertheless take reasonable steps to ensure the competence of their work and to protect clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients, and others from harm.

(f) When assuming forensic roles, psychologists are or become reasonably familiar with the judicial or administrative rules governing their roles.

2.02 Providing Services in Emergencies

In emergencies, when psychologists provide services to individuals for whom other mental health services are not available and for which psychologists have not obtained the necessary training, psychologists may provide such services in order to ensure that services are not denied. The services are discontinued as soon as the emergency has ended or appropriate services are available.

2.03 Maintaining Competence

Psychologists undertake ongoing efforts to develop and maintain their competence.

2.04 Bases for Scientific and Professional Judgments

Psychologists' work is based upon established scientific and professional knowledge of the discipline. (See also Standards

2.01e, Boundaries of Competence

, and

10.01b, Informed Consent to Therapy

.)

2.05 Delegation of Work to Others

Psychologists who delegate work to employees, supervisees, or research or teaching assistants or who use the services of others, such as interpreters, take reasonable steps to (1) avoid delegating such work to persons who have a multiple relationship with those being served that would likely lead to exploitation or loss of objectivity; (2) authorize only those responsibilities that such persons can be expected to perform competently on the basis of their education, training, or experience, either independently or with the level of supervision being provided; and (3) see that such persons perform these services competently. (See also Standards

2.02, Providing Services in Emergencies

;

3.05, Multiple Relationships

;

4.01, Maintaining Confidentiality

;

9.01, Bases for Assessments

;

9.02, Use of Assessments

;

9.03, Informed Consent in Assessments

; and

9.07, Assessment by Unqualified Persons

.)

2.06 Personal Problems and Conflicts

(a) Psychologists refrain from initiating an activity when they know or should know that there is a substantial likelihood that their personal problems will prevent them from performing their work-related activities in a competent manner.

(b) When psychologists become aware of personal problems that may interfere with their performing work-related duties adequately, they take appropriate measures, such as obtaining professional consultation or assistance, and determine whether they should limit, suspend, or terminate their work-related duties. (See also Standard

10.10, Terminating Therapy

.)

Section 3: Human Relations

3.01 Unfair Discrimination

In their work-related activities, psychologists do not engage in unfair discrimination based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or any basis proscribed by law.

3.02 Sexual Harassment

Psychologists do not engage in sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is sexual solicitation, physical advances, or verbal or nonverbal conduct that is sexual in nature, that occurs in connection with the psychologist's activities or roles as a psychologist, and that either (1) is unwelcome, is offensive, or creates a hostile workplace or educational environment, and the psychologist knows or is told this or (2) is sufficiently severe or intense to be abusive to a reasonable person in the context. Sexual harassment can consist of a single intense or severe act or of multiple persistent or pervasive acts. (See also Standard

1.08, Unfair Discrimination Against Complainants and Respondents

.)

3.03 Other Harassment

Psychologists do not knowingly engage in behavior that is harassing or demeaning to persons with whom they interact in their work based on factors such as those persons' age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, or socioeconomic status.

3.04 Avoiding Harm

(a) Psychologists take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients, and others with whom they work, and to minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable. 

(b) Psychologists do not participate in, facilitate, assist, or otherwise engage in torture, defined as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person, or in any other cruel, inhuman, or degrading behavior that violates 3.04(a).

3.05 Multiple Relationships 

(a) 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 same person, (2) at the same time is in a relationship with a person closely associated with or related to the person with whom the psychologist has the professional relationship, or (3) promises to enter into another relationship in the future with the person or a person closely associated with or related to the person.

A psychologist refrains from entering into a multiple relationship if the multiple relationship could reasonably be expected to impair the psychologist's objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing his or her functions as a psychologist, or otherwise risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional relationship exists.

Multiple relationships that would not reasonably be expected to cause impairment or risk exploitation or harm are not unethical.

(b) If a psychologist finds that, due to unforeseen factors, a potentially harmful multiple relationship has arisen, the psychologist takes reasonable steps to resolve it with due regard for the best interests of the affected person and maximal compliance with the Ethics Code.

(c) When psychologists are required by law, institutional policy, or extraordinary circumstances to serve in more than one role in judicial or administrative proceedings, at the outset they clarify role expectations and the extent of confidentiality and thereafter as changes occur. (See also Standards

3.04, Avoiding Harm

, and

3.07, Third-Party Requests for Services

.)

3.06 Conflict of Interest

Psychologists refrain from taking on a professional role when personal, scientific, professional, legal, financial, or other interests or relationships could reasonably be expected to (1) impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing their functions as psychologists or (2) expose the person or organization with whom the professional relationship exists to harm or exploitation.

3.07 Third-Party Requests for Services

When psychologists agree to provide services to a person or entity at the request of a third party, psychologists attempt to clarify at the outset of the service the nature of the relationship with all individuals or organizations involved. This clarification includes the role of the psychologist (e.g., therapist, consultant, diagnostician, or expert witness), an identification of who is the client, the probable uses of the services provided or the information obtained, and the fact that there may be limits to confidentiality. (See also Standards

3.05, Multiple relationships

, and 4.02, Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality.)

3.08 Exploitative Relationships

Psychologists do not exploit persons over whom they have supervisory, evaluative or other authority such as clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, and employees. (See also Standards

3.05, Multiple Relationships

;

6.04, Fees and Financial Arrangements

;

6.05, Barter with Clients/Patients

;

7.07, Sexual Relationships with Students and Supervisees

;

10.05, Sexual Intimacies with Current Therapy Clients/Patients

;

10.06, Sexual Intimacies with Relatives or Significant Others of Current Therapy Clients/Patients

;

10.07, Therapy with Former Sexual Partners

; and

10.08, Sexual Intimacies with Former Therapy Clients/Patients

.)

3.09 Cooperation with Other Professionals

When indicated and professionally appropriate, psychologists cooperate with other professionals in order to serve their clients/patients effectively and appropriately. (See also

Standard

4.05, Disclosures

.)

3.10 Informed Consent

(a) When psychologists conduct research or provide assessment, therapy, counseling, or consulting services in person or via electronic transmission or other forms of communication, they obtain the informed consent of the individual or individuals using language that is reasonably understandable to that person or persons except when conducting such activities without consent is mandated by law or governmental regulation or as otherwise provided in this Ethics Code. (See also Standards

8.02, Informed Consent to Research

;

9.03, Informed Consent in Assessments

; and

10.01, Informed Consent to Therapy

.)

(b) For persons who are legally incapable of giving informed consent, psychologists nevertheless (1) provide an appropriate explanation, (2) seek the individual's assent, (3) consider such persons' preferences and best interests, and (4) obtain appropriate permission from a legally authorized person, if such substitute consent is permitted or required by law. When consent by a legally authorized person is not permitted or required by law, psychologists take reasonable steps to protect the individual's rights and welfare.

(c) When psychological services are court ordered or otherwise mandated, psychologists inform the individual of the nature of the anticipated services, including whether the services are court ordered or mandated and any limits of confidentiality, before proceeding.

(d) Psychologists appropriately document written or oral consent, permission, and assent. (See also Standards

8.02, Informed Consent to Research

;

9.03, Informed Consent in Assessments

; and

10.01, Informed Consent to Therapy

.)

3.11 Psychological Services Delivered to or Through Organizations

(a) Psychologists delivering services to or through organizations provide information beforehand to clients and when appropriate those directly affected by the services about (1) the nature and objectives of the services, (2) the intended recipients, (3) which of the individuals are clients, (4) the relationship the psychologist will have with each person and the organization, (5) the probable uses of services provided and information obtained, (6) who will have access to the information, and (7) limits of confidentiality. As soon as feasible, they provide information about the results and conclusions of such services to appropriate persons.

(b) If psychologists will be precluded by law or by organizational roles from providing such information to particular individuals or groups, they so inform those individuals or groups at the outset of the service.

3.12 Interruption of Psychological Services

Unless otherwise covered by contract, psychologists make reasonable efforts to plan for facilitating services in the event that psychological services are interrupted by factors such as the psychologist's illness, death, unavailability, relocation, or retirement or by the client's/patient's relocation or financial limitations. (See also Standard

6.02c, Maintenance, Dissemination, and Disposal of Confidential Records of Professional and Scientific Work

.)

Section 4: Privacy and Confidentiality

4.01 Maintaining Confidentiality

Psychologists have a primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to protect confidential information obtained through or stored in any medium, recognizing that the extent and limits of confidentiality may be regulated by law or established by institutional rules or professional or scientific relationship. (See also Standard

2.05, Delegation of Work to Others

.)

4.02 Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality

(a) Psychologists discuss with persons (including, to the extent feasible, persons who are legally incapable of giving informed consent and their legal representatives) and organizations with whom they establish a scientific or professional relationship (1) the relevant limits of confidentiality and (2) the foreseeable uses of the information generated through their psychological activities. (See also Standard

3.10, Informed Consent

.)

(b) Unless it is not feasible or is contraindicated, the discussion of confidentiality occurs at the outset of the relationship and thereafter as new circumstances may warrant.

(c) Psychologists who offer services, products, or information via electronic transmission inform clients/patients of the risks to privacy and limits of confidentiality.

4.03 Recording

Before recording the voices or images of individuals to whom they provide services, psychologists obtain permission from all such persons or their legal representatives. (See also Standards

8.03, Informed Consent for Recording Voices and Images in Research

;

8.05, Dispensing with Informed Consent for Research

; and

8.07, Deception in Research

.)

4.04 Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy

(a) Psychologists include in written and oral reports and consultations, only information germane to the purpose for which the communication is made.

(b) Psychologists discuss confidential information obtained in their work only for appropriate scientific or professional purposes and only with persons clearly concerned with such matters.

4.05 Disclosures

(a) Psychologists may disclose confidential information with the appropriate consent of the organizational client, the individual client/patient, or another legally authorized person on behalf of the client/patient unless prohibited by law.

(b) Psychologists disclose confidential information without the consent of the individual only as mandated by law, or where permitted by law for a valid purpose such as to (1) provide needed professional services; (2) obtain appropriate professional consultations; (3) protect the client/patient, psychologist, or others from harm; or (4) obtain payment for services from a client/patient, in which instance disclosure is limited to the minimum that is necessary to achieve the purpose. (See also Standard

6.04e, Fees and Financial Arrangements

.)

4.06 Consultations

When consulting with colleagues, (1) psychologists do not disclose confidential information that reasonably could lead to the identification of a client/patient, research participant, or other person or organization with whom they have a confidential relationship unless they have obtained the prior consent of the person or organization or the disclosure cannot be avoided, and (2) they disclose information only to the extent necessary to achieve the purposes of the consultation. (See also Standard

4.01, Maintaining Confidentiality

.)

4.07 Use of Confidential Information for Didactic or Other Purposes

Psychologists do not disclose in their writings, lectures, or other public media, confidential, personally identifiable information concerning their clients/patients, students, research participants, organizational clients, or other recipients of their services that they obtained during the course of their work, unless (1) they take reasonable steps to disguise the person or organization, (2) the person or organization has consented in writing, or (3) there is legal authorization for doing so.

Section 5: Advertising and Other Public Statements

5.01 Avoidance of False or Deceptive Statements

(a) Public statements include but are not limited to paid or unpaid advertising, product endorsements, grant applications, licensing applications, other credentialing applications, brochures, printed matter, directory listings, personal resumes or curricula vitae, or comments for use in media such as print or electronic transmission, statements in legal proceedings, lectures and public oral presentations, and published materials. Psychologists do not knowingly make public statements that are false, deceptive, or fraudulent concerning their research, practice, or other work activities or those of persons or organizations with which they are affiliated.

(b) Psychologists do not make false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements concerning (1) their training, experience, or competence; (2) their academic degrees; (3) their credentials; (4) their institutional or association affiliations; (5) their services; (6) the scientific or clinical basis for, or results or degree of success of, their services; (7) their fees; or (8) their publications or research findings.

(c) Psychologists claim degrees as credentials for their health services only if those degrees (1) were earned from a regionally accredited educational institution or (2) were the basis for psychology licensure by the state in which they practice.

5.02 Statements by Others

(a) Psychologists who engage others to create or place public statements that promote their professional practice, products, or activities retain professional responsibility for such statements.

(b) Psychologists do not compensate employees of press, radio, television, or other communication media in return for publicity in a news item. (See also Standard

1.01, Misuse of Psychologists' Work

.)

(c) A paid advertisement relating to psychologists' activities must be identified or clearly recognizable as such.

5.03 Descriptions of Workshops and Non-Degree-Granting Educational Programs

To the degree to which they exercise control, psychologists responsible for announcements, catalogs, brochures, or advertisements describing workshops, seminars, or other non-degree-granting educational programs ensure that they accurately describe the audience for which the program is intended, the educational objectives, the presenters, and the fees involved.

5.04 Media Presentations

When psychologists provide public advice or comment via print, Internet, or other electronic transmission, they take precautions to ensure that statements (1) are based on their professional knowledge, training, or experience in accord with appropriate psychological literature and practice; (2) are otherwise consistent with this Ethics Code; and (3) do not indicate that a professional relationship has been established with the recipient. (See also Standard

2.04, Bases for Scientific and Professional Judgments

.)

5.05 Testimonials

Psychologists do not solicit testimonials from current therapy clients/patients or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence.

5.06 In-Person Solicitation

Psychologists do not engage, directly or through agents, in uninvited in-person solicitation of business from actual or potential therapy clients/patients or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence. However, this prohibition does not preclude (1) attempting to implement appropriate collateral contacts for the purpose of benefiting an already engaged therapy client/patient or (2) providing disaster or community outreach services.

Section 6: Record Keeping and Fees

6.01 Documentation of Professional and Scientific Work and Maintenance of Records

Psychologists create, and to the extent the records are under their control, maintain, disseminate, store, retain, and dispose of records and data relating to their professional and scientific work in order to (1) facilitate provision of services later by them or by other professionals, (2) allow for replication of research design and analyses, (3) meet institutional requirements, (4) ensure accuracy of billing and payments, and (5) ensure compliance with law. (See also Standard

4.01, Maintaining Confidentiality

.)

6.02 Maintenance, Dissemination, and Disposal of Confidential Records of Professional and Scientific Work

(a) Psychologists maintain confidentiality in creating, storing, accessing, transferring, and disposing of records under their control, whether these are written, automated, or in any other medium. (See also Standards

4.01, Maintaining Confidentiality

, and

6.01, Documentation of Professional and Scientific Work and Maintenance of Records

.)

(b) If confidential information concerning recipients of psychological services is entered into databases or systems of records available to persons whose access has not been consented to by the recipient, psychologists use coding or other techniques to avoid the inclusion of personal identifiers.

(c) Psychologists make plans in advance to facilitate the appropriate transfer and to protect the confidentiality of records and data in the event of psychologists' withdrawal from positions or practice. (See also Standards

3.12, Interruption of Psychological Services

, and

10.09, Interruption of Therapy

.)

6.03 Withholding Records for Nonpayment

Psychologists may not withhold records under their control that are requested and needed for a client's/patient's emergency treatment solely because payment has not been received.

6.04 Fees and Financial Arrangements

(a) As early as is feasible in a professional or scientific relationship, psychologists and recipients of psychological services reach an agreement specifying compensation and billing arrangements.

(b) Psychologists' fee practices are consistent with law.

(c) Psychologists do not misrepresent their fees.

(d) If limitations to services can be anticipated because of limitations in financing, this is discussed with the recipient of services as early as is feasible. (See also Standards

10.09, Interruption of Therapy

, and

10.10, Terminating Therapy

.)

(e) If the recipient of services does not pay for services as agreed, and if psychologists intend to use collection agencies or legal measures to collect the fees, psychologists first inform the person that such measures will be taken and provide that person an opportunity to make prompt payment. (See also Standards

4.05, Disclosures

;

6.03, Withholding Records for Nonpayment

; and

10.01, Informed Consent to Therapy

.)

6.05 Barter with Clients/Patients

Barter is the acceptance of goods, services, or other nonmonetary remuneration from clients/patients in return for psychological services. Psychologists may barter only if (1) it is not clinically contraindicated, and (2) the resulting arrangement is not exploitative. (See also Standards

3.05, Multiple Relationships

, and

6.04, Fees and Financial Arrangements

.)

6.06 Accuracy in Reports to Payors and Funding Sources

In their reports to payors for services or sources of research funding, psychologists take reasonable steps to ensure the accurate reporting of the nature of the service provided or research conducted, the fees, charges, or payments, and where applicable, the identity of the provider, the findings, and the diagnosis. (See also Standards

4.01, Maintaining Confidentiality

;

4.04, Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy

; and

4.05, Disclosures

.)

6.07 Referrals and Fees

When psychologists pay, receive payment from, or divide fees with another professional, other than in an employer-employee relationship, the payment to each is based on the services provided (clinical, consultative, administrative, or other) and is not based on the referral itself. (See also Standard

3.09, Cooperation with Other Professionals

.)

Section 7: Education and Training

7.01 Design of Education and Training Programs

Psychologists responsible for education and training programs take reasonable steps to ensure that the programs are designed to provide the appropriate knowledge and proper experiences, and to meet the requirements for licensure, certification, or other goals for which claims are made by the program. (See also Standard

5.03, Descriptions of Workshops and Non-Degree-Granting Educational Programs

.)

7.02 Descriptions of Education and Training Programs

Psychologists responsible for education and training programs take reasonable steps to ensure that there is a current and accurate description of the program content (including participation in required course- or program-related counseling, psychotherapy, experiential groups, consulting projects, or community service), training goals and objectives, stipends and benefits, and requirements that must be met for satisfactory completion of the program. This information must be made readily available to all interested parties.

7.03 Accuracy in Teaching

(a) Psychologists take reasonable steps to ensure that course syllabi are accurate regarding the subject matter to be covered, bases for evaluating progress, and the nature of course experiences. This standard does not preclude an instructor from modifying course content or requirements when the instructor considers it pedagogically necessary or desirable, so long as students are made aware of these modifications in a manner that enables them to fulfill course requirements. (See also Standard

5.01, Avoidance of False or Deceptive Statements

.)

(b) When engaged in teaching or training, psychologists present psychological information accurately. (See also Standard

2.03, Maintaining Competence

.)

7.04 Student Disclosure of Personal Information

Psychologists do not require students or supervisees to disclose personal information in course- or program-related activities, either orally or in writing, regarding sexual history, history of abuse and neglect, psychological treatment, and relationships with parents, peers, and spouses or significant others except if (1) the program or training facility has clearly identified this requirement in its admissions and program materials or (2) the information is necessary to evaluate or obtain assistance for students whose personal problems could reasonably be judged to be preventing them from performing their training- or professionally related activities in a competent manner or posing a threat to the students or others.

7.05 Mandatory Individual or Group Therapy

(a) When individual or group therapy is a program or course requirement, psychologists responsible for that program allow students in undergraduate and graduate programs the option of selecting such therapy from practitioners unaffiliated with the program. (See also Standard

7.02, Descriptions of Education and Training Programs

.)

(b) Faculty who are or are likely to be responsible for evaluating students' academic performance do not themselves provide that therapy. (See also Standard

3.05, Multiple Relationships

.)

7.06 Assessing Student and Supervisee Performance

(a) In academic and supervisory relationships, psychologists establish a timely and specific process for providing feedback to students and supervisees. Information regarding the process is provided to the student at the beginning of supervision.

(b) Psychologists evaluate students and supervisees on the basis of their actual performance on relevant and established program requirements.

7.07 Sexual Relationships with Students and Supervisees

Psychologists do not engage in sexual relationships with students or supervisees who are in their department, agency, or training center or over whom psychologists have or are likely to have evaluative authority. (See also Standard

3.05, Multiple Relationships

.)

Section 8: Research and Publication

8.01 Institutional Approval

When institutional approval is required, psychologists provide accurate information about their research proposals and obtain approval prior to conducting the research. They conduct the research in accordance with the approved research protocol.

8.02 Informed Consent to Research

(a) When obtaining informed consent as required in Standard 3.10, Informed Consent, psychologists inform participants about (1) the purpose of the research, expected duration, and procedures; (2) their right to decline to participate and to withdraw from the research once participation has begun; (3) the foreseeable consequences of declining or withdrawing; (4) reasonably foreseeable factors that may be expected to influence their willingness to participate such as potential risks, discomfort, or adverse effects; (5) any prospective research benefits; (6) limits of confidentiality; (7) incentives for participation; and (8) whom to contact for questions about the research and research participants' rights. They provide opportunity for the prospective participants to ask questions and receive answers. (See also Standards

8.03, Informed Consent for Recording Voices and Images in Research

;

8.05, Dispensing with Informed Consent for Research

; and

8.07, Deception in Research

.)

(b) Psychologists conducting intervention research involving the use of experimental treatments clarify to participants at the outset of the research (1) the experimental nature of the treatment; (2) the services that will or will not be available to the control group(s) if appropriate; (3) the means by which assignment to treatment and control groups will be made; (4) available treatment alternatives if an individual does not wish to participate in the research or wishes to withdraw once a study has begun; and (5) compensation for or monetary costs of participating including, if appropriate, whether reimbursement from the participant or a third-party payor will be sought. (See also Standard

8.02a, Informed Consent to Research

.)

8.03 Informed Consent for Recording Voices and Images in Research

Psychologists obtain informed consent from research participants prior to recording their voices or images for data collection unless (1) the research consists solely of naturalistic observations in public places, and it is not anticipated that the recording will be used in a manner that could cause personal identification or harm, or (2) the research design includes deception, and consent for the use of the recording is obtained during debriefing. (See also Standard

8.07, Deception in Research

.)

8.04 Client/Patient, Student, and Subordinate Research Participants

(a) When psychologists conduct research with clients/patients, students, or subordinates as participants, psychologists take steps to protect the prospective participants from adverse consequences of declining or withdrawing from participation.

(b) When research participation is a course requirement or an opportunity for extra credit, the prospective participant is given the choice of equitable alternative activities.

8.05 Dispensing with Informed Consent for Research

Psychologists may dispense with informed consent only (1) where research would not reasonably be assumed to create distress or harm and involves (a) the study of normal educational practices, curricula, or classroom management methods conducted in educational settings; (b) only anonymous questionnaires, naturalistic observations, or archival research for which disclosure of responses would not place participants at risk of criminal or civil liability or damage their financial standing, employability, or reputation, and confidentiality is protected; or (c) the study of factors related to job or organization effectiveness conducted in organizational settings for which there is no risk to participants' employability, and confidentiality is protected or (2) where otherwise permitted by law or federal or institutional regulations.

8.06 Offering Inducements for Research Participation

(a) Psychologists make reasonable efforts to avoid offering excessive or inappropriate financial or other inducements for research participation when such inducements are likely to coerce participation.

(b) When offering professional services as an inducement for research participation, psychologists clarify the nature of the services, as well as the risks, obligations, and limitations. (See also Standard

6.05, Barter with Clients/Patients

.)

8.07 Deception in Research

(a) Psychologists do not conduct a study involving deception unless they have determined that the use of deceptive techniques is justified by the study's significant prospective scientific, educational, or applied value and that effective nondeceptive alternative procedures are not feasible.

(b) Psychologists do not deceive prospective participants about research that is reasonably expected to cause physical pain or severe emotional distress.

(c) Psychologists explain any deception that is an integral feature of the design and conduct of an experiment to participants as early as is feasible, preferably at the conclusion of their participation, but no later than at the conclusion of the data collection, and permit participants to withdraw their data. (See also Standard

8.08, Debriefing

.)

8.08 Debriefing

(a) Psychologists provide a prompt opportunity for participants to obtain appropriate information about the nature, results, and conclusions of the research, and they take reasonable steps to correct any misconceptions that participants may have of which the psychologists are aware.

(b) If scientific or humane values justify delaying or withholding this information, psychologists take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of harm.

(c) When psychologists become aware that research procedures have harmed a participant, they take reasonable steps to minimize the harm.

8.09 Humane Care and Use of Animals in Research

(a) Psychologists acquire, care for, use, and dispose of animals in compliance with current federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and with professional standards.

(b) Psychologists trained in research methods and experienced in the care of laboratory animals supervise all procedures involving animals and are responsible for ensuring appropriate consideration of their comfort, health, and humane treatment.

(c) Psychologists ensure that all individuals under their supervision who are using animals have received instruction in research methods and in the care, maintenance, and handling of the species being used, to the extent appropriate to their role. (See also Standard

2.05, Delegation of Work to Others

.)

(d) Psychologists make reasonable efforts to minimize the discomfort, infection, illness, and pain of animal subjects.

(e) Psychologists use a procedure subjecting animals to pain, stress, or privation only when an alternative procedure is unavailable and the goal is justified by its prospective scientific, educational, or applied value.

(f) Psychologists perform surgical procedures under appropriate anesthesia and follow techniques to avoid infection and minimize pain during and after surgery.

(g) When it is appropriate that an animal's life be terminated, psychologists proceed rapidly, with an effort to minimize pain and in accordance with accepted procedures.

8.10 Reporting Research Results

(a) Psychologists do not fabricate data. (See also Standard

5.01a, Avoidance of False or Deceptive Statements

.)

(b) If psychologists discover significant errors in their published data, they take reasonable steps to correct such errors in a correction, retraction, erratum, or other appropriate publication means.

8.11 Plagiarism

Psychologists do not present portions of another's work or data as their own, even if the other work or data source is cited occasionally.

8.12 Publication Credit

(a) Psychologists take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed or to which they have substantially contributed. (See also Standard

8.12b, Publication Credit

.)

(b) Principal authorship and other publication credits accurately reflect the relative scientific or professional contributions of the individuals involved, regardless of their relative status. Mere possession of an institutional position, such as department chair, does not justify authorship credit. Minor contributions to the research or to the writing for publications are acknowledged appropriately, such as in footnotes or in an introductory statement.

(c) Except under exceptional circumstances, a student is listed as principal author on any multiple-authored article that is substantially based on the student's doctoral dissertation. Faculty advisors discuss publication credit with students as early as feasible and throughout the research and publication process as appropriate. (See also Standard

8.12b, Publication Credit

.)

8.13 Duplicate Publication of Data

Psychologists do not publish, as original data, data that have been previously published. This does not preclude republishing data when they are accompanied by proper acknowledgment.

8.14 Sharing Research Data for Verification

(a) After research results are published, psychologists do not withhold the data on which their conclusions are based from other competent professionals who seek to verify the substantive claims through reanalysis and who intend to use such data only for that purpose, provided that the confidentiality of the participants can be protected and unless legal rights concerning proprietary data preclude their release. This does not preclude psychologists from requiring that such individuals or groups be responsible for costs associated with the provision of such information.

(b) Psychologists who request data from other psychologists to verify the substantive claims through reanalysis may use shared data only for the declared purpose. Requesting psychologists obtain prior written agreement for all other uses of the data.

8.15 Reviewers

Psychologists who review material submitted for presentation, publication, grant, or research proposal review respect the confidentiality of and the proprietary rights in such information of those who submitted it.

Section 9: Assessment

9.01 Bases for Assessments

(a) Psychologists base the opinions contained in their recommendations, reports, and diagnostic or evaluative statements, including forensic testimony, on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate their findings. (See also Standard

2.04, Bases for Scientific and Professional Judgments

.)

(b) Except as noted in

9.01c

, psychologists provide opinions of the psychological characteristics of individuals only after they have conducted an examination of the individuals adequate to support their statements or conclusions. When, despite reasonable efforts, such an examination is not practical, psychologists document the efforts they made and the result of those efforts, clarify the probable impact of their limited information on the reliability and validity of their opinions, and appropriately limit the nature and extent of their conclusions or recommendations. (See also Standards

2.01, Boundaries of Competence

, and

9.06, Interpreting Assessment Results

.)

(c) When psychologists conduct a record review or provide consultation or supervision and an individual examination is not warranted or necessary for the opinion, psychologists explain this and the sources of information on which they based their conclusions and recommendations.

9.02 Use of Assessments

(a) Psychologists administer, adapt, score, interpret, or use assessment techniques, interviews, tests, or instruments in a manner and for purposes that are appropriate in light of the research on or evidence of the usefulness and proper application of the techniques.

(b) Psychologists use assessment instruments whose validity and reliability have been established for use with members of the population tested. When such validity or reliability has not been established, psychologists describe the strengths and limitations of test results and interpretation.

(c) Psychologists use assessment methods that are appropriate to an individual's language preference and competence, unless the use of an alternative language is relevant to the assessment issues.

9.03 Informed Consent in Assessments

(a) Psychologists obtain informed consent for assessments, evaluations, or diagnostic services, as described in Standard 3.10, Informed Consent, except when (1) testing is mandated by law or governmental regulations; (2) informed consent is implied because testing is conducted as a routine educational, institutional, or organizational activity (e.g., when participants voluntarily agree to assessment when applying for a job); or (3) one purpose of the testing is to evaluate decisional capacity. Informed consent includes an explanation of the nature and purpose of the assessment, fees, involvement of third parties, and limits of confidentiality and sufficient opportunity for the client/patient to ask questions and receive answers.

(b) Psychologists inform persons with questionable capacity to consent or for whom testing is mandated by law or governmental regulations about the nature and purpose of the proposed assessment services, using language that is reasonably understandable to the person being assessed.

(c) Psychologists using the services of an interpreter obtain informed consent from the client/patient to use that interpreter, ensure that confidentiality of test results and test security are maintained, and include in their recommendations, reports, and diagnostic or evaluative statements, including forensic testimony, discussion of any limitations on the data obtained. (See also Standards

2.05, Delegation of Work to Others

;

4.01, Maintaining Confidentiality

;

9.01, Bases for Assessments

;

9.06, Interpreting Assessment Results

; and

9.07, Assessment by Unqualified Persons

.)

9.04 Release of Test Data

(a) The term

test data

refers to raw and scaled scores, client/patient responses to test questions or stimuli, and psychologists' notes and recordings concerning client/patient statements and behavior during an examination. Those portions of test materials that include client/patient responses are included in the definition of

test data

. Pursuant to a client/patient release, psychologists provide test data to the client/patient or other persons identified in the release. Psychologists may refrain from releasing test data to protect a client/patient or others from substantial harm or misuse or misrepresentation of the data or the test, recognizing that in many instances release of confidential information under these circumstances is regulated by law. (See also Standard

9.11, Maintaining Test Security

.)

(b) In the absence of a client/patient release, psychologists provide test data only as required by law or court order.

9.05 Test Construction

Psychologists who develop tests and other assessment techniques use appropriate psychometric procedures and current scientific or professional knowledge for test design, standardization, validation, reduction or elimination of bias, and recommendations for use.

9.06 Interpreting Assessment Results

When interpreting assessment results, including automated interpretations, psychologists take into account the purpose of the assessment as well as the various test factors, test-taking abilities, and other characteristics of the person being assessed, such as situational, personal, linguistic, and cultural differences, that might affect psychologists' judgments or reduce the accuracy of their interpretations. They indicate any significant limitations of their interpretations. (See also Standards

2.01b and c, Boundaries of Competence

, and

3.01, Unfair Discrimination

.)

9.07 Assessment by Unqualified Persons

Psychologists do not promote the use of psychological assessment techniques by unqualified persons, except when such use is conducted for training purposes with appropriate supervision. (See also Standard

2.05, Delegation of Work to Others

.)

9.08 Obsolete Tests and Outdated Test Results

(a) Psychologists do not base their assessment or intervention decisions or recommendations on data or test results that are outdated for the current purpose.

(b) Psychologists do not base such decisions or recommendations on tests and measures that are obsolete and not useful for the current purpose.

9.09 Test Scoring and Interpretation Services

(a) Psychologists who offer assessment or scoring services to other professionals accurately describe the purpose, norms, validity, reliability, and applications of the procedures and any special qualifications applicable to their use.

(b) Psychologists select scoring and interpretation services (including automated services) on the basis of evidence of the validity of the program and procedures as well as on other appropriate considerations. (See also Standard

2.01b and c, Boundaries of Competence

.)

(c) Psychologists retain responsibility for the appropriate application, interpretation, and use of assessment instruments, whether they score and interpret such tests themselves or use automated or other services.

9.10 Explaining Assessment Results

Regardless of whether the scoring and interpretation are done by psychologists, by employees or assistants, or by automated or other outside services, psychologists take reasonable steps to ensure that explanations of results are given to the individual or designated representative unless the nature of the relationship precludes provision of an explanation of results (such as in some organizational consulting, preemployment or security screenings, and forensic evaluations), and this fact has been clearly explained to the person being assessed in advance.

9.11 Maintaining Test Security

The term

test materials

refers to manuals, instruments, protocols, and test questions or stimuli and does not include

test data

as defined in Standard

9.04, Release of Test Data

. Psychologists make reasonable efforts to maintain the integrity and security of test materials and other assessment techniques consistent with law and contractual obligations, and in a manner that permits adherence to this Ethics Code.

Section 10: Therapy

10.01 Informed Consent to Therapy

(a) When obtaining informed consent to therapy as required in Standard

3.10, Informed Consent

, psychologists inform clients/patients as early as is feasible in the therapeutic relationship about the nature and anticipated course of therapy, fees, involvement of third parties, and limits of confidentiality and provide sufficient opportunity for the client/patient to ask questions and receive answers. (See also Standards

4.02, Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality

, and

6.04, Fees and Financial Arrangements

.)

(b) When obtaining informed consent for treatment for which generally recognized techniques and procedures have not been established, psychologists inform their clients/patients of the developing nature of the treatment, the potential risks involved, alternative treatments that may be available, and the voluntary nature of their participation. (See also Standards

2.01e, Boundaries of Competence

, and

3.10, Informed Consent

.)

(c) When the therapist is a trainee and the legal responsibility for the treatment provided resides with the supervisor, the client/patient, as part of the informed consent procedure, is informed that the therapist is in training and is being supervised and is given the name of the supervisor.

10.02 Therapy Involving Couples or Families

(a) When psychologists agree to provide services to several persons who have a relationship (such as spouses, significant others, or parents and children), they take reasonable steps to clarify at the outset (1) which of the individuals are clients/patients and (2) the relationship the psychologist will have with each person. This clarification includes the psychologist's role and the probable uses of the services provided or the information obtained. (See also Standard

4.02, Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality

.)

(b) If it becomes apparent that psychologists may be called on to perform potentially conflicting roles (such as family therapist and then witness for one party in divorce proceedings), psychologists take reasonable steps to clarify and modify, or withdraw from, roles appropriately. (See also Standard

3.05c, Multiple Relationships

.)

10.03 Group Therapy

When psychologists provide services to several persons in a group setting, they describe at the outset the roles and responsibilities of all parties and the limits of confidentiality.

10.04 Providing Therapy to Those Served by Others

In deciding whether to offer or provide services to those already receiving mental health services elsewhere, psychologists carefully consider the treatment issues and the potential client's/patient's welfare. Psychologists discuss these issues with the client/patient or another legally authorized person on behalf of the client/patient in order to minimize the risk of confusion and conflict, consult with the other service providers when appropriate, and proceed with caution and sensitivity to the therapeutic issues.

10.05 Sexual Intimacies with Current Therapy Clients/Patients

Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with current therapy clients/patients.

10.06 Sexual Intimacies with Relatives or Significant Others of Current Therapy Clients/Patients

Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with individuals they know to be close relatives, guardians, or significant others of current clients/patients. Psychologists do not terminate therapy to circumvent this standard.

10.07 Therapy with Former Sexual Partners

Psychologists do not accept as therapy clients/patients persons with whom they have engaged in sexual intimacies.

10.08 Sexual Intimacies with Former Therapy Clients/Patients

(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. Psychologists who engage in such activity after the two years following cessation or termination of therapy and of having no sexual contact with the former client/patient bear the burden of demonstrating that there has been no exploitation, in light of all relevant factors, including (1) the amount of time that has passed since therapy terminated; (2) the nature, duration, and intensity of the therapy; (3) the circumstances of termination; (4) the client's/patient's personal history; (5) the client's/patient's current mental status; (6) the likelihood of adverse impact on the client/patient; and (7) any statements or actions made by the therapist during the course of therapy suggesting or inviting the possibility of a posttermination sexual or romantic relationship with the client/patient. (See also Standard

3.05, Multiple Relationships

.)

10.09 Interruption of Therapy

When entering into employment or contractual relationships, psychologists make reasonable efforts to provide for orderly and appropriate resolution of responsibility for client/patient care in the event that the employment or contractual relationship ends, with paramount consideration given to the welfare of the client/patient. (See also Standard

3.12, Interruption of Psychological Services

.)

10.10 Terminating Therapy

(a) Psychologists terminate therapy when it becomes reasonably clear that the client/patient no longer needs the service, is not likely to benefit, or is being harmed by continued service.

(b) Psychologists may terminate therapy when threatened or otherwise endangered by the client/patient or another person with whom the client/patient has a relationship.

(c) Except where precluded by the actions of clients/patients or third-party payors, prior to termination psychologists provide pretermination counseling and suggest alternative service providers as appropriate.

History and Effective Date

The American Psychological Association’s Council of Representatives adopted this version of the APA Ethics Code during its meeting on Aug. 21, 2002. The Code became effective on June 1, 2003. The Council of Representatives amended this version of the Ethics Code on Feb. 20, 2010, effective June 1, 2010, and on Aug. 3, 2016, effective Jan. 1, 2017.  Inquiries concerning the substance or interpretation of the APA Ethics Code should be addressed to the Director, Office of Ethics, American Psychological Association, 750 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. The standards in this Ethics Code will be used to adjudicate complaints brought concerning alleged conduct occurring on or after the effective date. Complaints will be adjudicated on the basis of the version of the Ethics Code that was in effect at the time the conduct occurred.

The APA has previously published its Ethics Code as follows:

American Psychological Association. (1953). Ethical standards of psychologists. Washington, DC: Author.

American Psychological Association. (1959). Ethical standards of psychologists. American Psychologist, 14, 279-282.

American Psychological Association. (1963). Ethical standards of psychologists. American Psychologist, 18, 56-60.

American Psychological Association. (1968). Ethical standards of psychologists. American Psychologist, 23, 357-361.

American Psychological Association. (1977, March). Ethical standards of psychologists. APA Monitor, 22-23.

American Psychological Association. (1979). Ethical standards of psychologists. Washington, DC: Author.

American Psychological Association. (1981). Ethical principles of psychologists. American Psychologist, 36, 633-638.

American Psychological Association. (1990). Ethical principles of psychologists (Amended June 2, 1989). American Psychologist, 45, 390-395.

American Psychological Association. (1992). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 47, 1597-1611.

American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060-1073.

American Psychological Association. (2010). 2010 amendments to the 2002 “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.” American Psychologist, 65, 493.

American Psychological Association. (2016). Revision of ethical standard 3.04 of the “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct” (2002, as amended 2010). American Psychologist, 71, 900.

Request copies of the APA's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct from the APA Order Department, 750 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, or phone (202) 336-5510.

Amendments to the 2002 “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct” in 2010 and 2016

2010 Amendments

Introduction and Applicability

If psychologists’ ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations, or other governing legal authority, psychologists make known their commitment to this Ethics Code and take steps to resolve the conflict in a responsible manner

. If the conflict is unresolvable via such means, psychologists may adhere to the requirements of the law, regulations, or other governing authority

in keeping with basic principles of human rights.

1.02 Conflicts Between Ethics and Law, Regulations, or Other Governing Legal Authority

If psychologists’ ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations, or other governing legal authority, psychologists

clarify the nature of the conflict

, make known their commitment to the Ethics Code, and take

reasonable

steps to resolve the conflict

consistent with the General Principles and Ethical Standards of the Ethics Code

.

If the conflict is unresolvable via such means, psychologists may adhere to the requirements of the law, regulations, or other governing legal authority.

Under no circumstances may this standard be used to justify or defend violating human rights

.

1.03 Conflicts Between Ethics and Organizational Demands

If the demands of an organization with which psychologists are affiliated or for whom they are working

are in

conflict with this Ethics Code, psychologists clarify the nature of the conflict, make known their commitment to the Ethics Code, and

to the extent feasible, resolve the conflict in a way that permits adherence to the Ethics Code.

take reasonable steps to resolve the conflict consistent with the General Principles and Ethical Standards of the Ethics Code. Under no circumstances may this standard be used to justify or defend violating human rights

.

2016 Amendment

3.04 Avoiding Harm

(a)

Psychologists take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients, and others with whom they work, and to minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable. 

(b) Psychologists do not participate in, facilitate, assist, or otherwise engage in torture, defined as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person, or in any other cruel, inhuman, or degrading behavior that violates 3.04(a).

Date created: 2017

Additional Resources

2018 APA Ethics Committee Rules and Procedures

(PDF, 197KB)

Revision of Ethics Code Standard 3.04

(Avoiding Harm) 

APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2017)

(PDF, 272KB)

2016 APA Ethics Committee Rules and Procedures

Revision of Ethical Standard 3.04 of the “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct” (2002, as Amended 2010)

(PDF, 26KB)

2010 Amendments to the 2002 "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct"

(PDF, 39KB)

Compare the 1992 and 2002 Ethics Codes

Contact APA Ethics Office

Contact APA Ethics Office

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