Code of Ethics for Psychologists: Rules & Guidelines
Chapter 2: Rules and General Policies
Article 7: Applicability of the Code
The Code of Ethics applies to all psychologists and colleagues who accept the jurisdiction of the College of the Order.
Article 8: Limits of the Code of Ethics
The rules of the Code of Ethics apply to all job-related activities of the psychologist that are performed with professional quality. This excludes personal activities or purposes not connected with their professional role. The personal or private behavior of a psychologist falls under the jurisdiction of the Ethics Code only when it goes beyond the public sphere and risks the prestige of the profession.
When the professional responsibilities of a psychologist conflict with institutional and/or legal obligations, they must make their commitment to the Code of Professional Ethics known and take steps to resolve the conflict responsibly.
Rule 9: Respect for Others
Psychologists must respect the rights of others to have values, attitudes, behaviors, and opinions that differ from their own. They should seek mutual respect in their interpersonal relationships and refrain from engaging in practices that violate the freedom, physical, and mental integrity of individuals with whom they interact professionally.
Psychologists should avoid situations involving multiple overlapping or inconsistent relationships, bearing in mind the potential harm that social networking can cause to their work or the people they treat. They must avoid establishing personal, scientific, professional, financial, or other relationships that could impair their objectivity, interfere with the effective discharge of their duties, or harm or exploit the other party.
Psychologists should also refrain from assuming duties where pre-existing relationships would interfere with the objectivity of their professional opinion. When a relationship has multiple incompatible and/or overlapping aspects, appropriate action should be taken.
Article 10: Provision of Services and Competition
1. General Aspects
Competition among psychologists is healthy and encourages continuous professional development and the updating of knowledge.
The provision of services by psychologists (diagnosis, therapy, teaching, counseling, supervision, investigation, or other) should occur only within a professional relationship and within the limits of their competence and expertise.
When psychologists are involved in new work areas or use diagnostic procedures and/or experimental techniques, they should be trained, monitored, and/or consult with qualified professionals to prevent harm to others. They must also inform their users of the experimental nature of these procedures.
Psychologists must timely and accurately convey the results of contracted services and issue their findings in a clear, scientific, and professional manner, using language understandable to the recipients of their services. They must also communicate the scope and limitations of procedures and techniques.
2. Use of Influence or Work of a Psychologist
Because the judgments and actions of a psychologist can affect the lives of others, they must take measures to avoid harm to their patients or clients, research participants, students, or others. If such damage is foreseeable, they must report it and take precautions to avoid or minimize it.
Psychologists must not engage in activities where it can be reasonably assumed that their skills or data could be misused by others. If this occurs, they must take steps to inform, correct, and/or mitigate the situation.
3. Use of Information Obtained in the Professional Relationship
If, during the course of their professional work, a psychologist obtains “inside information” legally defined as such, they must refrain from using it for purposes unrelated to professional care. It is a more serious transgression to use the information to the detriment of the client.
4. Servicing Third-Party Requirements
When third parties request services from a psychologist, the psychologist must first clarify the nature of their relationship with each party, their role, the probable uses of the services provided or information obtained, and any limits of confidentiality.
5. Consultation, Counseling, and Referral
Psychologists must seek consultation, supervision, and referrals as they deem appropriate, depending on the interests of their clients, patients, or consumers in general. They must also cooperate with other professionals and promote international teamwork and/or multidisciplinary collaboration where indicated and professionally appropriate.
6. Personal Interference in Professional Practice
Psychologists must avoid allowing personal, societal, political, religious, institutional, or other biases to skew their professional practice.
Psychologists should be aware that their practice can be interfered with by their personal problems and conflicts, potentially affecting their performance and the well-being of their clients. If this occurs, they should seek help in time to prevent or resolve the situation and/or suspend the task undertaken, referring the service to other professionals to avoid harm.
7. Delegation and Accountability
Psychologists should delegate to others only those responsibilities that they can perform competently, taking into account their level of education, training, and experience.
Psychologists should train and adequately supervise their employees, associates, or assistants, ensuring that they perform their services ethically, responsibly, and competently. Psychologists are responsible for the overall outcome of the process, including the behavior of their employees.
Activities of the profession, such as diagnostic procedures or tools, counseling, or treatment, should not be delegated to individuals who are not psychologists.
8. Fees and Financial Arrangements
When establishing a professional agreement, psychologists must agree with the recipient of their services or their legal representative on the form, conditions, and amount of fees.
Possible limitations of services originating from financing systems should be considered at the beginning of the professional relationship or when they occur.
In consideration for their services, psychologists should avoid accepting goods, services, or other non-cash compensation, as this can lead to conflicts or distortions of the professional relationship. Exceptionally, they may accept it only if there is no other alternative for the client and this mode does not interfere with the relationship.
The referral of a client from one psychologist to another should be governed exclusively by professional criteria and not result in financial rewards.
9. Documentation of Professional and Scientific Work
Psychologists must create, maintain, disseminate, store, and dispose of records and data related to their research, practice, and other work in accordance with the law and this Code of Ethics. They must also properly document their work to facilitate their own services and those of other professionals and to meet legal or institutional requirements.
The documentation and dissemination of a psychologist’s professional activity should not violate the principles and rules of confidentiality that are required.