Rehabilitation Council of India New Delhi - 2008
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND CONDUCT FOR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS
Preamble:
The clinical psychologists are committed to work toward enhancing the scientific understanding of normal and abnormal behavior, socio-cultural and religious practices prevailing in the society, and to use such scientific knowledge to improve quality of life of individuals in society and institutions. Clinical psychologists respect and protect all human rights and help individuals in making informed choices and judgments concerning their own life and human behavior in general.
Roles performed and responsibilities shouldered by clinical psychologists include but are not limited to the clinician, diagnostician, assessor, therapist, supervisor, consultant, expert witness in legal matters, researcher, trainer, educator, developer of assessment instruments and administrator. This code of ethics is intended to provide specific standards for professional practice of clinical psychology across a variety of contexts and to inspire and guide clinical psychologists to strive toward the welfare and protection of all individuals with whom they work in different roles. This document has also its goal of education of the public regarding the very highest ethical standards and ideals of the clinical psychology profession.
This code of ethics applies to all those members registered under the professional category of “clinical psychologist” with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and to students under the training program in RCI recognized centers. Registration in the RCI as clinical psychologist commits members to adhere to the standards of the RCI code of ethics and to the rules and procedures developed to enforce them. Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an ethical code is not itself a defense to a charge of unethical conduct. The professional activities as outlined in this document shall be distinguished from the private conduct of clinical psychologists, which is not within the purview of the Council. The ethical standards given hereunder are not exhaustive. The fact that a given conduct is not specifically addressed in this document does not mean that it is necessarily either ethical or unethical. The professional judgment on the part of clinical psychologists shall be guiding force in arriving at an ethical co rse of action in all such circumstances to eliminate any injustice or inequality and to attain highest standards of professionalism. In this document “client” means any person or persons or group of persons with whom a clinical psychologist interacts on a professional basis, be it in the capacity of a therapist, counselor, diagnostician, researcher, teacher or in any other professional pursuits across a variety of contexts, such as in person, postal, telephone, internet and other electronic transmissions.
Ethical Standards:
1. Professional Competence
1.1 Clinical Psychologists shall provide services, teach and conduct research in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education and training or professional experience. Neither they nor professionals employed by them shall practice beyond their areas of competence.
1.2 Clinical Psychologists shall work on the basis of established scientific and professional knowledge of the discipline and the reported evidences.
1.3 Clinical Psychologists shall undertake ongoing efforts to develop and maintain their professional knowledge and skill, and shall keep abreast with scientific innovations relevant to their areas in order to be competent in professional activities.
1.4 Clinical Psychologists shall take up any new areas of professional activity only after obtaining the knowledge, preparatory training and experience as considered necessary for competent functioning in that area, and take steps to protect clients from harm by untrained persons.
1.5 Clinical Psychologists shall become reasonably familiar with the judicial or administrative rules before assuming forensic roles.
1.6 When delegating work to other employees or assistants, Clinical Psychologists shall exercise caution and authorize only those responsibilities that such persons can perform competently on the basis of their education, training or experience, and see such persons perform these services competently.
1.7 When Clinical Psychologists become aware of personal problems that may interfere with discharging of the professional duties competently they shall take appropriate measures including seeking assistance and suspend or terminate their work-related duties.
2. Professional Responsibility
2.1 Clinical Psychologists shall, at all times, consider the client’s welfare and dignity and be responsible towards clients and the profession, and shall take measures to avoid and prevent misuse or abuse of their profession and professional roles.
2.2 Clinical Psychologists shall keep away from practicing if facing charges or convictions for serious criminal offences that could reflect on suitability for continuing in the profession.
2.3 Clinical Psychologists shall encourage colleagues whose health-related or other personal problems may reflect impairment in professional functioning to seek consultation or assistance, and consider other potential sources of intervention when such colleagues appear unable to recognize that a problem exists.
2.4 When working with other professionals Clinical Psychologists shall become reasonably familiar with their training, competence, boundaries and professional roles.
2.5 Clinical psychologists shall terminate professional services to their clients when the clients do not appear to be deriving any benefit or when services are no longer required.
2.6 Clinical psychologists shall refer clients to appropriate alternative sources of assistance and interventions as and when indicated.
2.7 Clinical psychologists shall exercise necessary caution while integrating/adopting new research findings in their professional practice.
2.8 Clinical psychologists shall, while undertaking research, obtain informed consent or assent in writing from the research participants and follow all ethical guidelines and prevailing law governing such research.
3. Professional Integrity
3.1 Clinical Psychologists shall be honest and fair in all of their interactions with clients, and shall uphold integrity in all facets of their professional endeavors.
3.2 Clinical Psychologists shall be accurate in representing their professional affiliations and qualifications, including such matters as knowledge, skill, training, education, and experience, and shall clarify their professional roles for clients and other parties. They shall take reasonable steps to ensure that their qualifications and competency are not misrepresented by him or others, and shall correct any identifiable misrepresentations.
3.3 Clinical Psychologists shall be honest and accurate in conveying professional conclusions, opinions and research findings, and in acknowledging the possible limitations.
3.4 Clinical Psychologists shall ensure that their clients are aware, from the very beginning, about the costs of the services rendered.
3.5 Clinical Psychologists shall refrain from forming such relationships with their clients that may damage professional objectivity or lead to clients’ exploitation or conflicts of interest with the client.
3.6 Clinical Psychologists shall be aware and take necessary steps to avoid the problems that may result from dual or multiple relationships for example, supervising or examining a trainee to whom they are married; teaching and training students with whom they are having an intimate relationship; or providing professional services to family members.
4. Professional Respect for Human Dignity and Rights
4.1 Clinical Psychologists shall value the dignity, autonomy and the rights of their clients irrespective of the age, sex, socio-cultural and religious backgrounds.
4.2 Clinical Psychologists shall respect client’s opinion, autonomy, selfdetermination, sexual orientation, political affiliation, gender, language, nationality, educational standards etc. and render professional services objectively without any discrimination.
4.3 Clinical Psychologists shall take all steps necessary to maintain confidentiality of the clients’ information and obtain consent from clients or from their duly authorized individuals for disclosure of confidential information. They shall strive that the breach of confidentiality is restricted only to those exceptional circumstances where the physical safety of clients is in danger, physical safety of other persons who may be endangered by the client’s behavior and the physical safety of children or vulnerable adults raise a serious concern.
4.4 Clinical Psychologists shall ensure that the clients are aware of the limitations of maintaining confidentiality with specific reference to: supervening legal and ethical obligations; likelihood that consultation with other professional colleagues may occur in order to enhance the effectiveness of professional services etc.
4.5 Clinical Psychologists shall make all efforts to ensure that colleagues, staff, trainees understand and respect the clients and handle information about the clients and their problem confidentially.
4.6 Clinical Psychologists shall obtain informed consent from the clients for research participation after giving ample opportunity to understand the nature, purpose and anticipated consequences and ensuring that the clients are aware of their right from the beginning to withdraw at any time from the research participation.
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CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND CONDUCT FOR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS
Preamble:
The clinical psychologists are committed to work toward enhancing the scientific understanding of normal and abnormal behavior, socio-cultural and religious practices prevailing in the society, and to use such scientific knowledge to improve quality of life of individuals in society and institutions. Clinical psychologists respect and protect all human rights and help individuals in making informed choices and judgments concerning their own life and human behavior in general.
Roles performed and responsibilities shouldered by clinical psychologists include but are not limited to the clinician, diagnostician, assessor, therapist, supervisor, consultant, expert witness in legal matters, researcher, trainer, educator, developer of assessment instruments and administrator. This code of ethics is intended to provide specific standards for professional practice of clinical psychology across a variety of contexts and to inspire and guide clinical psychologists to strive toward the welfare and protection of all individuals with whom they work in different roles. This document has also its goal of education of the public regarding the very highest ethical standards and ideals of the clinical psychology profession.
This code of ethics applies to all those members registered under the professional category of “clinical psychologist” with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and to students under the training program in RCI recognized centers. Registration in the RCI as clinical psychologist commits members to adhere to the standards of the RCI code of ethics and to the rules and procedures developed to enforce them. Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an ethical code is not itself a defense to a charge of unethical conduct. The professional activities as outlined in this document shall be distinguished from the private conduct of clinical psychologists, which is not within the purview of the Council. The ethical standards given hereunder are not exhaustive. The fact that a given conduct is not specifically addressed in this document does not mean that it is necessarily either ethical or unethical. The professional judgment on the part of clinical psychologists shall be guiding force in arriving at an ethical co rse of action in all such circumstances to eliminate any injustice or inequality and to attain highest standards of professionalism. In this document “client” means any person or persons or group of persons with whom a clinical psychologist interacts on a professional basis, be it in the capacity of a therapist, counselor, diagnostician, researcher, teacher or in any other professional pursuits across a variety of contexts, such as in person, postal, telephone, internet and other electronic transmissions.
Ethical Standards:
1. Professional Competence
1.1 Clinical Psychologists shall provide services, teach and conduct research in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education and training or professional experience. Neither they nor professionals employed by them shall practice beyond their areas of competence.
1.2 Clinical Psychologists shall work on the basis of established scientific and professional knowledge of the discipline and the reported evidences.
1.3 Clinical Psychologists shall undertake ongoing efforts to develop and maintain their professional knowledge and skill, and shall keep abreast with scientific innovations relevant to their areas in order to be competent in professional activities.
1.4 Clinical Psychologists shall take up any new areas of professional activity only after obtaining the knowledge, preparatory training and experience as considered necessary for competent functioning in that area, and take steps to protect clients from harm by untrained persons.
1.5 Clinical Psychologists shall become reasonably familiar with the judicial or administrative rules before assuming forensic roles.
1.6 When delegating work to other employees or assistants, Clinical Psychologists shall exercise caution and authorize only those responsibilities that such persons can perform competently on the basis of their education, training or experience, and see such persons perform these services competently.
1.7 When Clinical Psychologists become aware of personal problems that may interfere with discharging of the professional duties competently they shall take appropriate measures including seeking assistance and suspend or terminate their work-related duties.
2. Professional Responsibility
2.1 Clinical Psychologists shall, at all times, consider the client’s welfare and dignity and be responsible towards clients and the profession, and shall take measures to avoid and prevent misuse or abuse of their profession and professional roles.
2.2 Clinical Psychologists shall keep away from practicing if facing charges or convictions for serious criminal offences that could reflect on suitability for continuing in the profession.
2.3 Clinical Psychologists shall encourage colleagues whose health-related or other personal problems may reflect impairment in professional functioning to seek consultation or assistance, and consider other potential sources of intervention when such colleagues appear unable to recognize that a problem exists.
2.4 When working with other professionals Clinical Psychologists shall become reasonably familiar with their training, competence, boundaries and professional roles.
2.5 Clinical psychologists shall terminate professional services to their clients when the clients do not appear to be deriving any benefit or when services are no longer required.
2.6 Clinical psychologists shall refer clients to appropriate alternative sources of assistance and interventions as and when indicated.
2.7 Clinical psychologists shall exercise necessary caution while integrating/adopting new research findings in their professional practice.
2.8 Clinical psychologists shall, while undertaking research, obtain informed consent or assent in writing from the research participants and follow all ethical guidelines and prevailing law governing such research.
3. Professional Integrity
3.1 Clinical Psychologists shall be honest and fair in all of their interactions with clients, and shall uphold integrity in all facets of their professional endeavors.
3.2 Clinical Psychologists shall be accurate in representing their professional affiliations and qualifications, including such matters as knowledge, skill, training, education, and experience, and shall clarify their professional roles for clients and other parties. They shall take reasonable steps to ensure that their qualifications and competency are not misrepresented by him or others, and shall correct any identifiable misrepresentations.
3.3 Clinical Psychologists shall be honest and accurate in conveying professional conclusions, opinions and research findings, and in acknowledging the possible limitations.
3.4 Clinical Psychologists shall ensure that their clients are aware, from the very beginning, about the costs of the services rendered.
3.5 Clinical Psychologists shall refrain from forming such relationships with their clients that may damage professional objectivity or lead to clients’ exploitation or conflicts of interest with the client.
3.6 Clinical Psychologists shall be aware and take necessary steps to avoid the problems that may result from dual or multiple relationships for example, supervising or examining a trainee to whom they are married; teaching and training students with whom they are having an intimate relationship; or providing professional services to family members.
4. Professional Respect for Human Dignity and Rights
4.1 Clinical Psychologists shall value the dignity, autonomy and the rights of their clients irrespective of the age, sex, socio-cultural and religious backgrounds.
4.2 Clinical Psychologists shall respect client’s opinion, autonomy, selfdetermination, sexual orientation, political affiliation, gender, language, nationality, educational standards etc. and render professional services objectively without any discrimination.
4.3 Clinical Psychologists shall take all steps necessary to maintain confidentiality of the clients’ information and obtain consent from clients or from their duly authorized individuals for disclosure of confidential information. They shall strive that the breach of confidentiality is restricted only to those exceptional circumstances where the physical safety of clients is in danger, physical safety of other persons who may be endangered by the client’s behavior and the physical safety of children or vulnerable adults raise a serious concern.
4.4 Clinical Psychologists shall ensure that the clients are aware of the limitations of maintaining confidentiality with specific reference to: supervening legal and ethical obligations; likelihood that consultation with other professional colleagues may occur in order to enhance the effectiveness of professional services etc.
4.5 Clinical Psychologists shall make all efforts to ensure that colleagues, staff, trainees understand and respect the clients and handle information about the clients and their problem confidentially.
4.6 Clinical Psychologists shall obtain informed consent from the clients for research participation after giving ample opportunity to understand the nature, purpose and anticipated consequences and ensuring that the clients are aware of their right from the beginning to withdraw at any time from the research participation.
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