APA Ethical Principles and Decision making
APA’s principles and codes of conduct present guidelines set in place to guide psychologists and other professionals in making sound decisions regarding specific issues. They play a significant role in a variety of settings. These may include but not limited to; provision of a professional ruling by psychologists, curb cases of unfairness and inequality and also protect specific rules and policies against violation. They also take action against various charges involving fraud cases, suspensions, and expulsions from various psychological institutions. These principles and conduct codes also address issues that require ethical consideration according to (Berghel, 2019), as in the case of Tina and her daughter Victoria as explained further below;
The daughter has the right to know her status. Ethical principles provide room for the application of actions to avoid particular harm. It implies that people should not facilitate or carry out particular acts that are likely to inflict physical or mental pain in the present and near future. Victoria, therefore, should be informed of her status early in advance since prolonged time poses a threat of transmitting the disease. Her condition may also deteriorate in the future once she knows the truth by herself. Her positive relationship with her mother may also be on the verge of reaching extremities once she finds out what her mother has been disclosing.
APA principles and conduct codes also address the issue regarding philanthropy and the application of non- harmful acts. It emphasizes on the need to safeguard the various needs of the persons we interact with. It attempts to manage certain situations in a responsible manner that proves harmless. Tina has, therefore, the right to address her daughter’s position but responsibly. She should encourage her to take the medication as prescribed to curb the harmful effects on her heath, the consequence of underdose.
Maintaining confidentiality is also a key element in APA’s ethical conduct codes (Ashton & Sullivan, 2018). It provides the right to keep dern information obtained through various means. However, it addresses certain circumstances beyond which confidential information should be exposed. This may include when a particular situation demands. Tina has a right to keep her status private. She should, however, be willing to explain her condition to her daughter. This will curb the possibility of chaos occurring shortly once the daughter discovers her health status.
Codes of conduct and various APA principles address the issue of personal proposals and opinions. It provides that third parties should not engage in matters whose suggestions could be influential. Exemptions exist which allow the intervention in cases where their opinions matter. These include the ones who could benefit a specific individual and that which matters to society. Victoria’s case is not an exemption. Failure to know her status may have dire consequences. She is likely to transmit the disease and consequently die off due to her lack of information on how she should have maintained herself.
Finally, ethical codes of conduct address the rules regarding the provision of services upon request. They provide that psychologists should offer such assistance when the situation allows (Bush, 2019). They should, however, provide information that has a positive impact on the desired outcomes. The staff should, therefore, give Victoria detailed information on the disease. They should also inform her precautionary measures to observe to curb the spread of the ailment. It should also offer health education regarding the diets that will boost her immunity. This will have solved the situation ethically.
In conclusion, ethical principles and codes of conduct should be applied in resolving issues that involve moral choices. This is because they employ fairness, justice, and active responsibility while addressing such situations.
REFERENCES
Ashton, K., & Sullivan, A. (2018). Ethics and confidentiality for psychologists in academic health centers. Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings, 25(3), 240-249.
Berghel, H. (2019). Codes of ethics in a post-truth world. Computer, 52(3), 76-80.
Bush, S. S. (2019). Use of practice guidelines and position statements in ethical decision making. American Psychologist, 74(9), 1151.