Ethical Issues
Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.
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Laws: All U.S. states have laws regulating
contact between psychologists and their
patients.
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Prohibiting sexual contact
Regulating confidentiality
Regulation from the federal government
License
Ethical treatment of children
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Many professional organizations have
ethical guidelines and if you are a
member of those organizations, you are
expected to follow them.
◦ APA
Professional organizations
Ethics: a system of morals of a person or
group (morals = distinguishing between
right and wrong).
 Ethical behavior: behavior that conforms
to moral or professional standards of
conduct.
 Ethical standards: laws, rules, or
guidelines designed to ensure ethical
behavior.
 The role of culture.
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Ethics
Case study 1: The case of a female grade
school student.
 Case study 2: clinical trials of a new
medication.
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Ethical behavior
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In the 1800s, several studies involving
institutionalized children.
In 1896, a study was published in which
29 healthy children were each given a
spinal tap to see if this could be done
safely.
Tuskegee Study
Willowbrook School issue
The movement towards providing ethical
interactions with children.
Our sad history of doing research
on children
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Several overriding principles form the
foundation for the ethical treatment of
those involved in research and therapy.
Principles for the ethical
treatment of people involved in
research or therapy.
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Autonomy: an individual’s right to self
determination – to act as he/she sees fit if
these actions do not infringe on the rights
of others.
Autonomy
Informed consent: a person or a person’s
representative must give informed
consent before participating in research or
therapy.
 Three conditions must be met.
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Basic Issues: Informed Consent
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Is it ethical to provide inducements to get
participants in a research study?
Inducements
What is required to allow children and
adolescents to participate in research?
 What if a child doesn’t want to
participate?
 Is there ever a time when we don’t need
IRB approval to conduct research on
children?
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Research
Can children or adolescents participate in
therapy without parental permission?
 Do we need to get their assent?
 Commitment issues with children.
 Parham v. J. R. (1979)
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Therapy
Beneficence: expectation that research
and therapy will provide some benefit to
those who participate.
 Nonmaleficence: expectation that no
harm will be done to a participant in
research or therapy or that any harm will
be minimized.
 What if the risks are more than minimal?
 In therapy with a family, who receives the
benefit?
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Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
Confidentiality: conversations between a
patient and therapist remain confidential
– they are not revealed to anyone without
the patient’s permission. This is seen as
the cornerstone of therapy.
 Exceptions: suicide, homicide, child
maltreatment (physical/sexual abuse)
 Do children have the same rights as
adults?
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Confidentiality
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The IRB
◦ Scientists familiar with research
◦ Lawyers
Institutional Review Board