Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology
Resolution No. 11
Series of 2017
Adoption and Promulgation of the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards for Psychology Practitioners in the Philippines
WHEREAS, Section 7 of Republic Act No.10029 also known as the Philippine Psychology Act of 2009 mandates the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology (Board) to monitor the conditions and circumstances affecting the practice of Psychology and Psychometrics in the Philippines and to adopt such measures as may be deemed lawful and proper for the enhancement and maintenance of high professional, ethical and technical standards of the profession;
WHEREAS, Section 32 of the same law provides that the Board shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards for the Psychology Practitioners that is prescribed and issued by the Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) for the Psychology and Psychometrics profession;
WHEREAS, Section 26 thereof further states that the Board shall have the power, after notice and hearing, to suspend or revoke the Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card or to cancel the Special/Temporary Permit granted pursuant to the law on any of the grounds therein set forth, including violations or conspiracy to violate any of the provisions of RA No.10029, its implementing rules and regulations, Code of Ethics and Professional Standards promulgated by the Board.
WHEREAS, the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards shall set forth the ethical and technical principles that shall govern the practice of all Psychologists and Psychometricians in the Philippines;
WHEREAS, as early as 2008, the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) has already adopted a Code of Ethics and Professional Standards for the Psychology Practitioners in the Philippines, which document underwent thorough stakeholders' review on December 2015;
WHEREAS, the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards for Psychology Practitioners was endorsed to the Board and the Commission for adoption and promulgation;
WHEREFORE, the Board hereby RESOLVES, as it is so RESOLVED to adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards for the Psychology Practitioners in the Philippines, as part of the rules and regulations governing the practice of the Psychology profession in the country, and which copy is hereto appended as Annex A of this Resolution;
This Resolution, including its Annex, shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its full and complete publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of national circulation.
Let copies hereof be furnished the U.P. Law Center, the Philippine Psychological Association (PAP) and other Psychology professional organizations for information and wider circulation.
Done in the City of Manila this
24th day
of August 2017.
Signed:
Miriam P. Cue
Chairperson
Alexa P. Abrenica
Member
Imelda Virginia G. Villar
Member
Attested by:
Atty. Lovelika T. Bautista
OIC, Secretary's Office of the Professional Regurds
Approved by:
Teofilo S. Pilando,Jr.
Chairman
Angeline T. Chua Chiaco
Commissioner
Yolanda D. Reyes
Commissioner
CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR PSYCHOLOGY PRACTITIONERS
PREFACE
The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) adopted a Code of Ethics for the Philippines in 2008. On December 2015, upon the request of the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology (Board), a review of this Code was undertaken. This review was attended by the PAP Board of Directors and Division Chairs as well as the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology (Board) Chairperson and Members for the purpose of updating the Code in order to reflect advancements/changes in the field of Psychology, such as the administration of the licensure examinations and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Core Competencies of Psychology.
The code presents the principles and standards that shall govern the norms of conduct and ethics of all registered Psychologists and Psychometricians in the Philippines. For purposes of this Code, the term "Psychology Practitioners" shall be used to refer to all registered and licensed Psychologists and Psychometricians in the Philippines.
Both PAP and the Board shall take steps to ensure that all Psychology practitioners will know, understand and be properly guided by this Code. As such, the PAP and the Board shall encourage continuous discussions on the Code or any of its specific provisions, with the goal of making the Code a priority concern among all Psychology practitioners. Mindful of the fact that the Code can never completely address all the possible emergent ethical concerns, the PAP and the Board shall nonetheless encourage all Psychology practitioners to study the Code and make recommendations for its continuous improvement. Any suggestions for the amendments, repeal of certain provisions of this Code shall be submitted in writing, with supporting arguments and explanations, to the PAP Scientific and Ethics Committee and/or the Board. The PAP and the Board commit to regularly review the Code and to adopt changes or amendments thereto whenever necessary.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
Psychology Practitioners in the Philippines adhere to the following Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists that was adopted unanimously by the General Assembly of the International Union of Psychological Science in Berlin on July 22, 2008 and by the Board of Directors of the International Association of Applied Psychology in Berlin on July 26, 2008.
(Please refer to the embedded file for the following sections :)
PREAMBLE
PRINCIPLE I - Respect for the Dignity of Persons and Peoples
PRINCIPLE II - Competent Caring for the Well-Being of Persons and Peoples
PRINCIPLE III - Integrity
PRINCIPLE IV - Professional and Scientific Responsibilities to Society
(
Note: he text below on
General Ethical Standards and Procedures were largely lifted from the Psychological Association of the Philippines with some editing and revisions.)
GENERAL ETHICAL STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES
The following general ethical standards and procedures describe various
aspects of the professional and scholarly activities of Psychology practitioners:
I. Resolving Ethical Issues
II. Standards of Professional Competence
III. Human Relations
IV. Confidentiality
V. Advertisement and Public Statements
VI. Records and Fees
I. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES
A. Misuse of Works
In instances where misuse or misrepresentation of our work comes to our
attention, Psychology practitioners take appropriate and reasonable steps to
correct or minimize effects of such misuse or
misrepresentation.
B. Conflicts between Ethics and Law, Regulations or other Governing Legal
Authority
In instances where the Code of Ethics conflicts with the law,
regulations of governing legal
authority, Psychology practitioners
shall take appropriate actions to resolve the conflict.
However, if the conflicts cannot be resolved by such means, they must adhere
to the law, rules and regulations or governing legal authority.
C. Conflicts between Ethics and Organizational Demands
In instances where this Code of Ethics conflicts with organizational
demands, Psychology practitioners shall
endeavor to make this Code of Ethics
known to the organization. Psychology practitioners shall declare
their commitment and adherence to this Code when resolving the conflicts.
D. Action on Ethical Violations
a. If an action is likely to cause
harm to a person or organization, Psychology practitioners shall take further action
to report violation to the appropriate institutional authorities.
b. Complaints against any Psychology practitioner maybe lodged with the
Board and the Commission.
E. Cooperating with Ethics Committee
Psychology practitioners cooperate with the ethics investigation and proceedings conducted by the Board and/or the
Psychological Association/s to which
they belong .
F. Improper Complaints
Psychology practitioners refrain from filing baseless, frivolous or
malicious ethical complaints.
H. Unfair Discrimination Against Complainants and Respondents
Psychology practitioners shall not discriminate against complainants
and respondents in any ethical complaint.
(Note: Letter G was omitted in the sequence, in the original PAP version, an item D. Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations was deleted in this version of Resolution 11 Annex A).
II. COMPETENCIES
A. Boundaries of Competence
a. Psychology practitioners shall provide services, teach, and conduct
research only within the boundaries of their competences, based on their
education, training, supervised internship, consultation, study or professional
experience.
b. Psychology practitioners shall make appropriate referrals, except as
provided in Standard A.2, on Providing Services in Emergencies, where their existing
competences are not sufficient to ensure
effective implementation or provision of their services.
c. When Psychology practitioners
plan to provide services, teach,
or conduct research involving populations, areas, techniques, or technologies
that are new to them and/or are beyond their existing
competences, they must undertake relevant education, training,
supervised experience,
consultation, or thorough study.
d. As not to deprive individuals or groups of necessary services,
Psychology practitioners may provide the service for which they do not have
existing competences as long as they
- have closely related prior training or experience, and
- make a reasonable effort to obtain the competences required by
undergoing relevant research, training, consultation, or thorough study.
e. In those emerging areas in which generally recognized standards for
preparatory training
do not yet exist, but in which Psychology practitioners are
required or requested to make available their
services, they shall take reasonable steps to ensure the
competence in the work and to protect their
clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants,
organizational clients, and
others from harm.
f. Psychology practitioners shall be reasonably familiar with the relevant
judicial or administrative rules when assuming forensic roles.
B. Providing Services in Emergencies
Psychology practitioners shall make available their services in emergency situations to
individuals when the necessary mental health services are not available even if
they lack the training appropriate to the case, to ensure these individuals are
not deprived of the emergency services they require at that
point in time. However, they shall immediately discontinue said
services as soon as the emergency has ended and that appropriate competent are already available.
C. Maintaining Competence
Psychology practitioners shall undertake continuing education and
training to ensure that their services continue to be relevant and
applicable.
D. Bases for Scientific and Professional Judgments
Psychology practitioners shall base their work on
established scientific and professional knowledge of the discipline. (See also
Standards II.A (e), Boundaries of Competence; VIII.B.(a), Informed Consent to Therapy; V.A, Avoiding of False Deceptive Statements; V.C, Workshops,
Seminars, and Non-Degree-Granting Educational Programs; VII. E, Interpreting Assessment
Results; VII.G,
Explaining Assessment Results; VIII.F, Competent Practice; IX.C,
Accuracy in Teaching)
E. Delegation of Work to Others
In cases where Psychology practitioners have to delegate work to
employees, supervisees, or research or teaching assistants or when using the
services of others, such as interpreters, they shall take reasonable steps to:
a. avoid delegating such work to persons who have a multiple
relationship with those being
served that would likely lead to exploitation or loss of objectivity;
b. delegate or assign only those responsibilities that such persons can
be expected to perform
competently on the basis of their education, training, or experience,
either independently
or with the level of supervision being provided; and
c. see that such persons perform these services competently. (See also
Standards II.B, Providing Services in Emergencies; III.E, Multiple
Relationships; IV.A, Maintaining Confidentiality; VII.A, Bases for Assessments;
, VII.C, Use of Assessment Tools; VII.B, Informed Consent in Assessments;
VII.I, Assessment by Unqualified Persons; and X.F, Offering Inducements for
Research Participation)
F. Personal Problems and Conflicts
a. Psychology practitioners shall refrain from initiating an activity when
they know or anticipate that there is a substantial likelihood that their personal
problems or schedules will prevent them from performing such activities in a
competent or sustained manner.
b. When the Psychology practitioners shall become aware of personal
problems that may interfere with the performance of work-related duties, they shall
take appropriate measures, such as obtaining professional consultation or
assistance, making referrals and determine whether they should limit, suspend, or
terminate these work-related duties. (See also Standard 10.10, Terminating
Therapy.)
III. HUMAN RELATIONS
A. Unfair Discrimination
In work-related activities, Psychology practitioners shall not discriminate against persons based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or for any basis contrary to what is prescribed by law.
B. Sexual Harassment
Psychology practitioners shall not engage in sexual harassment as defined in the Philippine Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (RA No. 7877).
C. Other Harassments
Psychology practitioners shall not knowingly harass or demean persons with whom they interact in their work on the account of age, sex, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin,
religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, or socioeconomic status.
D. Avoiding Harm
Psychology practitioners shall take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients, and others with whom they work with and to minimize harm where it is foreseeable but unavoidable.
E. Multiple Relationships
a. Psychology practitioners shall refrain from entering into a multiple relationship if such could reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing their functions as such, or if such relationship will likely result to exploitation or harm to the person with whom their professional relationship exists. The multiple relationship occurs when a Psychology practitioner is in a professional role with a person and at the same time (1) is in another role with the same person; or (2) is in a relationship with a person closely associated with or related to the person with whom the Psychology practitioner has professional relationship; or (3) is likely to enter into a future relationship with that client/patient. If however, the Psychology practitioners shall find that, due to unforeseen factors, a potentially harmful multiple relationship has arisen, they shall take reasonable steps to resolve it with due regard to the best interests of the affected person and adherence of this Code.
b. When Psychology practitioners shall be required by law, institutional policy, or extraordinary circumstances to serve in more than one (1) role in judicial or administrative proceedings, they shall endeavor to inform the authorities about their Code of Ethics, to clarify role expectations and extent of confidentiality and update them as changes occur. (See also Standards III.D, Avoiding Harm, and III.G, Third-Party Requests for Services.)
F. Conflict of Interest
Psychology practitioners shall refrain from taking on a professional
role when personal, scientific, professional, legal, financial, or other
interests or relationship could reasonably be expected to (1) impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in
performing their functions as such; or (2) expose the person or
organization with whom they are in a relationship with to exploitation.
G. Third-Party Requests for Services
When Psychology practitioners agree to provide services to a person or
entity at the request of a third party, they shall stipulate at the outset of
the service the nature of the relationship with all
individuals or organizations involved. This clarification includes their expected role (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 II.B, Providing
Services in Emergencies;
III.E, Multiple Relationships; IV.B, Limitations of Confidentiality;
IV.G, Use of Confidential
Information for Other Purposes; VII.B (c), Informed Consent in
Assessment; VII.G,
Explaining Assessment Results; VIII.A,, Confidentiality; X.O, Sharing
Research Data for
Verification; and X.P, Reviewers)
H. Exploitative Relationships
Psychology practitioners shall not exploit persons over whom Psychology
practitioners have supervisory, evaluative, or other
authority such as clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants,
and employees. (See also Standards III.E, Multiple Relationships; VI.D, Fees and Financial
Arrangements; Barter with
Clients/Patients; IX.G, Sexual Relationships With Students and Supervisees;
Sexual Intimacies With Current Therapy Clients/Patients; VIII.D (e), Sexual
Intimacies with Relatives or Significant Others of Current Therapy
Clients/Patients; VIII.D (f), Therapy With Former Sexual Partners; and VIII.D
(f), Sexual Intimacies With Former Therapy
Clients/Patients.)
Unfinished, for updating, to be continued....
(updated - 22 November 2017)
Related Read:
http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/08/universal-declaration-of-ethical.html
http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/08/revisiting-code-of-ethics-for.html
