Code of Ethics of the Psychologist

The psychology is a scientific discipline and a profession of a generally social health nature that is practiced by a large number of professionals in the world.

The exercise of our profession is complex and in general we treat very intimate and personal aspects of the patients or users who come for consultation. We have a responsibility as professionals towards our patients or users, and there are many aspects that must be taken into account if we want to offer a quality service.

In this sense, in addition, it is necessary that there are general principles and norms that allow all psychologists to exercise safely both for the user and for the psychologist himself, respecting the rights and obligations that he as a professional has. These norms have been collected by the official colleges of psychologists in a Code of Ethics of the Psychologist, about which we are going to talk throughout this article.

Code of ethics: what is it and what is it for?

The deontological code is understood to be the set of norms, guidelines, criteria and orientations

that must be put into practice by the group of professionals dedicated to a specific profession, in pursuit of provide a unitary, ethical, responsible and professional service to the beneficiaries or clients of said profession. In other words, it is a document that contains the main guidelines and rules that every professional must follow in order to practice.

In the case of the deontological code of the psychologist, it collects based on the principles of coexistence and legality established by the State and in based on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, both rights and duties of the professional, in such a way that allows to know what is the role of the psychologist in various fields and with respect to different aspects of the profession and what its exercise it implies.

It allows to guide the professional and facilitate the development of psychology in a responsible, complete and respectful way with the rights and dignity of people. Thus, its compliance protects clients and their well-being, the profession and the professional himself by offering a common framework in which they can practice. Likewise, the norms that are stipulated in it are not mere suggestions but norms for the development of the practice of psychology as a profession. Failure to comply can lead to various sanctions, which can lead to sanctions such as professional disqualification and even in some cases incur a criminal offense.

It should be taken into account that the code of ethics may vary slightly depending on the Official College of Psychologists who have issued it, although the basic content and in general the provisions and standards are the themselves. The deontological code that we will talk about in this article is that of the General Council of Official Colleges of Psychologists, from which all the others emanate. In this a total of 61 articles are observed divided into eight norms or general areas.

Main aspects on which the profession regulates

The professional practice of psychology is not simple, and there are many aspects and elements that must be taken into account. He counts when it comes to being able to perform a correct exercise of the functions that correspond to this type of profession.

In this sense, the deontological code organizes its articles around eight major norms or thematic blocks within which the various articles mentioned above would be broken down. Said rules or sections would be the following.

1. General principles

This block or section stipulates general rules of conduct and good practices for the psychologist, including work aimed at achieving the client's well-being and development, the disposition and treatment of the patient and her rights, confidentiality and its exceptions, respect for the idiosyncrasy and beliefs of the patient, impartiality in the treatment, the search for maximum beneficence and minimum maleficiency for the client, the non-search for profit or profit from his position in relation to the patient, care and caution when assessing and making reports or the possible need for collaboration with other professionals in the same or other fields socio-sanitary.

2. Professional competence and relationship with other professionals

This second major section of the code of ethics nHe tells you about the main duties and rights of the psychologist as a professional, the need for proper training (which must be continued) and to recognize the limits of its competence. The need to use proven and validated methods is also stipulated, or else giving the patient notice in advance that the technique to be used has not yet been contrasted.

Other aspects that include the custody of the reports and instruments used, or in in case contact with other competent professionals in other areas is necessary socio-sanitary. The right to respect for one's own professional activity and that of other colleagues in the profession is also valued.

3. Intervention

The third of the blocks of the deontological code is dedicated to guide and guide the professional regarding how the type of intervention carried out should be and the assessment of how it can be used. Thus, if you take into account that those services that are known to be misused should be avoided.

Non-lengthening of the intervention is also indicated when the professional or the techniques used do not give results, the possible referral to another professional, the determination of whether and to whom the problems and issues discussed in consultation should be communicated (for example, parents or legal guardians in the case of minors or legally incapacitated persons) or the non-interruption or boycott of the interventions of others professionals.

It also stipulates the need not to give rise to confusing situations regarding the role of the professional, not to take advantage of the situation of power that can confer one's own status to own benefit, favor the autonomy of the patient even in the event that he wants to abandon or try another professional (however, the psychologist can refuse to carry out a simultaneous intervention, something that on the other hand can become harmful or confusing for the patient) or the use of truthful data in cases where it is required to perform advice.

4. Research and teaching

Outside of the clinic, a psychologist can also work as a researcher or teacher. In this sense, the code of ethics stipulates the need to pursue scientific and professional progress with research that follows the scientific method and with a teaching in which she can transmit said knowledge.

The need for explicit authorization by patients or legal guardians is also stipulated in the event that need to use clinical data, as well as to avoid doing unnecessary or irreversible damage even to avoid other greater.

Research must be done with respect for personal dignity and avoiding as much as possible harm or suffering, whether research is carried out with people or animals. In those in which aversive stimulations such as minor electric shocks are to be produced, the subjects must have clearly given their consent without any type of coercion and in full freedom, knowing in advance what is going to be done make. In case of wanting to leave the research or experiment, the subject may do so at any time.

5. Obtaining and using the information

A very relevant aspect of the profession is confidentiality: patients, clients or users are making known to the psychologist very sensitive information regarding their life, what they have lived, their emotions, thoughts, hopes and plans. In this sense, the fifth section of the deontological code of the psychologist establishes the need to scrupulously respect the right to privacy, seeking only the information that is considered necessary and aimed at improving the situation of the client.

Professional secrecy must be maintained except in the event of force majeure or by court decree (or by parents or legal guardians, in the case of minors or disabled persons). The subject must also be able if he wishes to know the content of any report that is made and issued as long as this does not endanger the subject or the professional. The data collected may only be expressed to third parties with the authorization of the patient.

In the case of using clinical data for educational or informative purposes, this must be done in such a way that it is not possible to identify the patient from whom it is based (unless the subject explicitly consents to it).

At the teaching level, it is also stipulated that the presence of practitioners or students will only be possible with the consent of the client. If the patient dies, stops coming or disappears, the professional will remain subject to professional secrecy.

6. Advertising

As a profession, psychologists also need to advertise and make themselves known in order to get patients or clients. In this sense the code of ethics establishes the need to adjust their conduct in such a way as to safeguard the integrity of the profession and professional secrecy.

It also stipulates that the attribution of a title that is not possessed is a serious violation, as well as degrees that lead to error. In case of using a pseudonym, the professional must declare it in the General Council of Official Associations of Psychologists. It is also established that the psychology professional can take part in counseling campaigns at a cultural, educational, health, labor or social level.

7. Fees and remuneration

The salary or remuneration that a psychologist is going to obtain with her services is an aspect that, although it depends largely up to the professional's decision, it also receives consideration within the code deontological.

In this sense It is stipulated that the fees charged by the professional must be previously informed to the client, in addition to the fact that it is not possible to receive remuneration for making referrals to other professionals. Official colleges offer guidelines, but as long as it does not denigrate the profession or engage in unfair competition, the price in question is stipulated by the professional.

8. Procedural guarantees

The last major section of the code of ethics is dedicated to procedural guarantees. Thus, in this section we observe articles that stipulate the need to report violations of the code's rules. deontological before the Ethics Commission (after which the Governing Board will proceed to adopt the resolution that complete).

Another element to highlight, typical of article 59, is that the General Council of Official Associations of Psychologists guaranteed the defense of professionals attacked or threatened in the exercise of their functions, defending the dignity and independence of the psychologist. It is also stipulated that the rules stipulated by the code of ethics imply a formal commitment to society and that they form part of the legal systems.

It is noteworthy, in article 61, the fact that if in any specific case some of these rules conflict with each other, the The professional must conscientiously resolve and inform both the Ethics Commission of the college in which he is enrolled and the various parties interested.

Some of the most relevant basic principles

Each and every one of the articles of the code of ethics is relevant to the professional practice of the psychologist. However, Perhaps the most important are the general principles, among which stand out how we have mentioned above following a series of basic guidelines for good exercise such as psychologist.

In the first place we find the need to seek maximum beneficence and non-maleficence. This implies that the professional practice of psychology is oriented primarily to the achieving the promotion, protection and improvement as far as possible of the welfare and autonomy of the client. With regard to non-maleficence, this concept refers to the fact that said search should not incur in causing damage to the client, whether by action or omission of this. This does not mean that treatments or therapies do not involve work on an emotional level that can be partly aversive, but it does mean that they avoid causing harm in the process.

Another of the basic principles of the code of ethics is the responsibility of the professional in the development of their profession, taking into account the obligations and rights you have and specifying the need to comply with ethical standards, as well as continuous training in order to offer the best service possible.

In addition to this, integrity and honesty is necessary in dealing with the patient or user, seeking a sincere contact in which there are no deception, fraud, omissions or unwise or unwise practices well-founded.

Another of the main elements is impartiality and justice: the psychologist must exercise his profession without performing discrimination based on sex, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, language, religion, race, socioeconomic status or other reasons. However, this does not imply that there is no right to refer if the case in question is beyond our competence or we consider that we cannot offer the user an impartial and fair treatment. Likewise, the ability not to judge or criticize the patient regardless of their condition or situation is a fundamental requirement.

Finally, the practice of psychology is subject to current legislation, and rights such as confidentiality, privacy, the ability to decide / autonomy must be respected

Bibliographic references:

• Official College of Psychologists of Spain. (2010). Code of ethics. Available in: https://www.cop.es/pdf/codigo-deontologico-consejo-adaptacion-ley-omnibus.pdf