(3) |
Human Relations.
(a) |
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.
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(b) |
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.)
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(c) |
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.
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(d) |
3.04 Avoiding Harm.
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.
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(e) |
3.05 Multiple Relationships.
1. |
(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.
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2. |
(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. |
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3. |
(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.) |
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(f) |
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.
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(g) |
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.)
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(h) |
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.)
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(i) |
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.)
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(j) |
3.10 Informed Consent.
1. |
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.) |
2. |
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. |
3. |
(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. |
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4. |
(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.) |
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(k) |
3.11 Psychological
Services Delivered To or Through Organizations.
1. |
(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. |
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2. |
(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. |
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(l) |
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.)
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