Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct455908

Preamble and Common Principles are not themselves enforceable guidelines, they ought to be regarded as 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, even though the application of an Ethical Standard might vary based on the context. The Ethical Requirements are not exhaustive. The fact that a given conduct is not particularly 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 part of their scientific, educational, or professional roles as psychologists. Locations covered include but are not restricted to the clinical, counseling, and school practice of psychology research teaching supervision of trainees public service policy development 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 selection of contexts, such as in person, postal, phone, 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 rules and procedures utilized 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 present Rules and Procedures of 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 might notify other bodies and individuals of its actions. Actions that violate the requirements of the Ethics Code might also lead to the imposition of sanctions on psychologists or students whether or not they are APA members by bodies other than APA, such as state psychological associations, other expert groups, psychology boards, other state or federal agencies, and payors for well being services. In addition, APA might 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 assure an chance for an in-person hearing, but generally offer that complaints will be resolved only on the basis of a submitted record.

The Ethics Code is intended to offer guidance for psychologists and standards of expert conduct that can be applied by the APA and by other bodies that select 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 figure out whether or not the psychologist is legally liable in a court action, whether a contract is enforceable, or whether other legal consequences occur.

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