Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct8626958

Preamble and Common Principles are not themselves enforceable rules, they ought to be considered by psychologists in arriving at an ethical course of action. The Ethical Requirements set forth enforceable rules for conduct as psychologists. Most of the Ethical Requirements are written broadly, in order to apply to psychologists in varied roles, although the application of an Ethical Standard might differ based on the context. The Ethical Standards are not exhaustive. The fact that a offered conduct is not specifically addressed by an Ethical Regular does not imply that it is necessarily either ethical or unethical.

This Ethics Code applies only to psychologists' activities that are component of their scientific, educational, or expert roles as psychologists. Locations covered include but are not restricted to the clinical, counseling, and college practice of psychology research teaching supervision of trainees public service policy improvement social intervention improvement of assessment instruments conducting assessments educational counseling organizational consulting forensic activities program style and evaluation and administration. This Ethics Code applies to these activities across a variety of contexts, such as in individual, postal, telephone, internet, and other electronic transmissions. These activities shall be distinguished from the purely private conduct of psychologists, which is not inside the purview of the Ethics Code.

Membership in the APA commits members and student affiliates to comply with the requirements of the APA Ethics Code and to the guidelines and procedures utilized to enforce them. Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an Ethical Regular 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 Guidelines and Procedures of APA Ethics Committee. APA may impose sanctions on its members for violations of the standards of the Ethics Code, such as termination of APA membership, and might notify other bodies and people of its actions. Actions that violate the requirements of the Ethics Code may also lead to the imposition of sanctions on psychologists or students whether or not or not they are APA members by bodies other than APA, such as state psychological associations, other professional groups, psychology boards, other state or federal agencies, and payors for health services. In addition, APA might take action against a member following 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 Guidelines and Procedures do not assure an opportunity for an in-person hearing, but usually offer 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 expert 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 or not a psychologist has violated the Ethics Code requirements does not by itself determine whether or not the psychologist is legally liable in a court action, whether or not a contract is enforceable, or whether or not other legal consequences occur.

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