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The Center for Ethical Practice, Inc.

Selected Ethical Standards Relevant to Confidentiality*

 
PSYCHOLOGISTS

  1. Key Standard:
    4.01 - Maintaining Confidentiality: Psychologists have a primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to protect confidential information obtained through or stored in any medium . . .
       
  2. Clarification, Amplification, and Application Standards
    A. Expanding on the Confidentiality Rule
     

4.04- Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy
4.06 - Consultations
4.07 - Use of Confidential Information for Didactic or Other Purposes

    B. Applying the Confidentiality Rule in Other Specific Circumstances
     

1.04 - Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations
1.05 - Reporting Ethical Violations
1.06 - Cooperating with Ethics Committees
3.09 - Cooperation With Other Professionals
3.12 - Interruption of Psychological Services
6.01 - Documentation of Work and Maintenance of Records
6.02 - Maintenance, Dissemination, Disposal of Records
6.04 - Fees and Financial Arrangements
6.06 - Accuracy in Reports to Payors and Funding Sources
8.15 - Reviewers
9.04 - Release of Test Data

    C. Informing Prospective Clients About Limits of Confidentiality
     

3.05 - Multiple Relationships
3.07 - Third Party Requests for Services
3.10 - Informed Consent
3.11 - Psychological Services To/Through Organizations
4.02 - Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality
8.02 - Informed Consent to Research
9.03 - Informed Consent in Assessments
10.01 - Informed Consent to Therapy
10.02 - Therapy Involving Couples or Families
10.03 - Group Therapy 

    D. Obtaining Consent for Recording
     

4.03 - Recording
8.03 - Informed Consent for Recording in Research

    E. Ensuring that Others Protect Clients' Confidentiality Rights
      2.05 - Delegating of Work to Others
    F. Responding to Conflicts Between Ethical Duties and Other Duties
     

1.02 - Conflicts Between Ethics and Laws
1.03 - Conflicts Between Ethics and Organizational Demands

       
  3. Exceptions to the Key Standard
    4.05 - Disclosures: (a) Psychologists may disclose confidential information with the appropriate consent of . . . the client, unless prohibited by law. (b) Psychologists disclose confidential information without the consent of the individual only as mandated by law, or where permitted by law for a valid purpose . . .
       

  =============================

* APA Ethical Standards related to confidentiality
are here arranged in categories suggested by Knapp & VandeCreek (2006).
Ethical Standards were chosen for training purposes from American Psychological Association (2010) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

Familiarity with these standards is not a substitute for knowing all sections of your Ethics Code.

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