Ethical Information
Selected Ethical Standards About Confidentiality:
Psychologists (from APA Code of Ethics)
| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| D. Obtaining Consent for Recording | |||
| 4.03 – Recording 8.03 – Informed Consent for Recording in Research |
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| 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 |
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| 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 . . . | |||
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* 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.
