Psychologist’s Code of Ethics

A series of ethical rules that regulate our profession. We review them.

Psychology is a scientific discipline and a profession of a generally socio-healthcare nature that is practiced by a large number of professionals in the world.

The practice of our profession is complex and we generally deal with very intimate and personal aspects of the patients or users who come to us for consultation. We have a responsibility as professionals towards our patients or users, and there are many aspects to take into account if we want to offer a quality service.

In this sense, moreover, it is necessary that there are some general principles and rules that allow all psychologists to practice in a safe way, both for the user and for the psychologist himself. both for the user and for the psychologist, respecting the rights and obligations that he or she has as a professional. These norms have been collected by the official colleges of psychologists in a Psychologist's Code of Ethicswhich we are going to talk about in this article.

Code of ethics: what is it and what is it for?

A code of ethics is understood to be the set of rules, guidelines, criteria and orientations that must be put into practice by all professionals engaged in a particular profession, in order to provide a uniform, ethical, responsible and professional service to the beneficiaries or clients of that profession. In other words, it is a document that contains the main guidelines and rules that every professional must follow in order to be able to practice.

In the case of the psychologist's code of ethics, based on the principles of coexistence and legality established by the State and on the basis of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations, it includes both the rights and duties of the professional, so that the role of the psychologist in different areas and with respect to different aspects of the profession and what its practice implies can be understood.

It allows to guide the professional and facilitate the development of psychology in a responsible, integral and respectful way with the rights and dignity of people. Thus, its compliance protects clients and their welfare, the profession and the professional himself by providing a common framework in which they can practice. Furthermore, the standards stipulated therein are not mere suggestions but standards for the development of the practice of psychology as a profession. Failure to comply with the code can lead to various sanctions, which can result in sanctions such as professional disqualification and in some cases even criminal prosecution.

It should be noted that the code of ethics may vary slightly depending on the Official College of Psychologists that has issued it, although the basic content and, in general, the provisions and rules are the same. The code of ethics that we will discuss in this article is that of the General Council of Official Colleges of Psychologists, from which all the others emanate. It contains a total of 61 articles divided into eight rules or general areas.

Main aspects that regulate the profession

The professional practice of psychology is not simple, and there are many aspects and elements that must be taken into account in order to be able to correctly perform the functions that correspond to this type of profession.

In this sense, the code of ethics organizes its articles around eight major rules or thematic blocks within which the various articles mentioned above are broken down. These rules or sections would be as follows.

1. General principles

This block or section stipulates general rules of conduct and good practice for the psychologist, including work aimed at achieving the well-being and development of the client.The following aspects should be taken into account: disposition and treatment of the patient and his/her rights, confidentiality and its exceptions, respect for the patient's idiosyncrasy and beliefs, impartiality in treatment, the search for maximum beneficence and minimum maleficence for the client, not seeking profit or benefit from his/her position in relation to the patient, care and caution when assessing and making reports or the possible need for collaboration with other professionals in the same or other social and health care fields.

2. Professional competence and relationship with other professionals

This second major section of the code of professional ethics ntalks about the main duties and rights of the psychologist as a professional, the need for correct training (which must be continuous) and to recognize the limits of his or her own competence. It also stipulates the need to use contrasted and validated methods, or to warn the patient beforehand that the technique to be used has not yet been contrasted.

Other aspects included are the custody of the reports and instruments used, or, if necessary, contact with other competent professionals in other socio-health areas. The right to respect for one's own professional activity and that of other colleagues is also valued.

3. Intervention

The third of the blocks of the code of ethics is dedicated to orienting and guiding the professional with regard to the type of intervention to be carried out and the assessment of how it can be used.. Thus, it takes into account that services that are known to be misused should be avoided.

Also indicated are the non-extension of the intervention when the professional or the techniques used do not give results, the possible referral to another professional, the determination of whether and to whom the problems and aspects dealt with in consultation should be communicated (for example, parents or legal guardians in the case of minors or legally incapacitated persons) or the non-interruption or boycott of the interventions of other professionals.

It also stipulates the need not to give rise to confusing situations regarding the role of the professional, not to take advantage of the situation of power that may confer the status itself for personal benefit, to favor the autonomy of the patient even in the event that he/she wants to leave or try another professional (however, the psychologist may refuse to perform a simultaneous intervention, something that on the other hand may be harmful or confusing for the patient) or the use of truthful data in cases in which he/she is required to provide counseling.

4. Research and teaching

Apart from the clinic, a psychologist can also work as a researcher or teacher. In this sense, the code of ethics stipulates the need to seek the scientific progress of the profession with research that follows the scientific method and with teaching in which he/she can transmit this knowledge.

It also stipulates the need for explicit authorization from patients or legal guardians in the event that clinical data need to be used, as well as the need to avoid unnecessary or irreversible harm, even to avoid greater harm.

Research should be carried out with respect for personal dignity and with the utmost care to avoid causing harm or suffering, whether research is carried out on humans or animals. In those in which aversive stimulations such as minor electric shocks are to be produced, the subjects must have clearly given their consent without any type of coercion and in full freedom, knowing beforehand what is going to be done. Should the subject wish to leave the research or experiment, he/she may do so at any time.

5. Obtaining and using information

A very relevant aspect of the profession is confidentiality.The fifth section of the psychologist's code of ethics establishes the need to scrupulously respect the right to privacy, seeking only information deemed necessary and aimed at the improvement of the psychologist's situation. In this sense, the fifth section of the psychologist's code of ethics establishes the need to scrupulously respect the right to privacy, seeking only the information deemed necessary and aimed at improving the client's situation.

Professional secrecy must be maintained except in cases of force majeure or by judicial decree (or by parents or legal guardians, in the case of minors or incapacitated persons). The subject should also be able to know the content of any report made and issued as long as this does not endanger the subject or the professional. The data collected may only be disclosed to third parties with the patient's authorization.

If clinical data are used for educational or informational purposes, this must be done in such a way that it is not possible to identify the patient from whom the data are collected (unless the subject explicitly consents to this).

At the teaching level, it is also stipulated that the presence of trainees or students is only possible with the client's consent. If the patient dies, ceases to attend or disappears, the professional will continue to be bound by professional secrecy.

6. Advertising

As a profession, psychologists also need to advertise and make themselves known in order to get patients or clients. In this sense the code of ethics establishes the need to adjust their conduct in such a way as to safeguard the integrity of the profession and professional secrecy..

It also stipulates that the attribution of a title that one does not possess is a serious violation, as well as misleading titles. In case of using a pseudonym, the professional must declare it to the General Council of Official Colleges of Psychologists. It is also established that the psychology professional can be part of counseling campaigns at a cultural, educational, health, labor or social level.

7. Fees and remuneration

The salary or remuneration that a psychologist will obtain for his or her services is an aspect that, although it depends to a great extent on the decision of the professional, also receives consideration within the code of ethics.

In this regard, it is stipulated stipulates that the fees charged by the professional must be informed to the client beforehand.The code also stipulates that it is not possible to receive remuneration for making referrals to other professionals. The official associations offer guidance criteria, but as long as it does not involve denigrating the profession or engaging in unfair competition, the price in question is stipulated by the professional.

8. Procedural guarantees

The last major section of the code of ethics is devoted to procedural guarantees.. Thus, in this section we find articles that stipulate the need to report breaches of the rules of the code of ethics to the Deontological Commission (after which the Governing Board will proceed to adopt the appropriate resolution).

Another element to highlight, typical of Article 59, is that the General Council of Official Colleges of Psychologists guarantees the defense of professionals attacked or threatened in the exercise of their functions, defending the dignity and independence of the psychologist. It is also stipulated that the rules stipulated by the code of ethics imply a formal commitment to society and that they form part of the legal system.

It is noteworthy, in Article 61, that if in any specific case some of these rules should conflict with each other, the professional must resolve in conscience and inform both the Deontological Commission of the college in which he/she is registered and the various interested parties.

Some of the most relevant basic principles

Each and every article of the code of ethics is relevant to the professional practice of psychologists. However, perhaps the most important are the general principles, among which, as mentioned above, are the following of a series of basic guidelines for good practice as a psychologist.

In the first place we find the need to seek maximum beneficence and non-maleficence. This implies that the professional practice of psychology is oriented primarily towards the promotion, protection and improvement, as far as possible, of the client's well-being and autonomy. With regard to non-maleficence, this concept refers to the fact that such pursuit should not incur in causing harm to the client either by action or omission. This does not mean that treatments or therapies do not involve work at the emotional level that may be in part aversive, but avoid causing harm in the process.

Another of the basic principles of the code of ethics is the responsibility of the professional in the development of his profession, taking into account the obligations and rights that he has and specifying the need to comply with the rules of ethics, as well as to train continuously in order to offer the best possible service.

In addition, integrity and honesty are necessary in dealing with the patient or user, seeking a sincere contact in which there is no deception, fraud, omissions or unwise or unsubstantiated practices.

Another of the main elements is impartiality and justice: the psychologist must practice his profession without discrimination based on sex, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, language, religion, race, socioeconomic status or other reasons. This does not imply, however, that we do not have the right to refer if the case in question is beyond our competence or if we consider that we cannot offer the user impartial and fair treatment. The ability not to judge or criticize the patient regardless of his or her condition or situation is also a fundamental requirement.

Finally, the practice of psychology is subject to current legislationand rights such as confidentiality, privacy, decision-making capacity/autonomy, etc., must be respected.

Bibliographical references:

• Official College of Psychologists of Spain. (2010). Code of ethics. Available at: https://www.cop.es/pdf/codigo-deontologico-consejo-adaptacion-ley-omnibus.pdf