PSYC FPX 1000 Assessment 3: Applying Ethical Principles

Introduction

The field of psychology is based on treating people with respect. However, applying these ethics becomes much harder when working with people who are weak. Ethical Principles make sure that psychologists, counselors, and nurses speak up for people who may not fully understand their rights or what treatment and research mean. This assessment looks at the moral need for informed consent, the limits of privacy, and the idea of Justice when working with minors and people with cognitive disabilities.

Foundations of Ethical Treatment

In psychology, Applying Ethical Principles is governed by the five General Principles of the APA. In the context of Assessment 3, three principles take center stage: Beneficence, Justice, and Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity.

1. Beneficence and Non-maleficence: The Safety Priority

The main goal when working with a child or an elderly person with dementia is to keep them safe. A practitioner who follows ethical principles must think about how a psychological intervention might help a confused or scared patient and how it might make them feel worse. This often means taking the least restrictive approach to care.

2. Respect for Autonomy and the Consent Process

Respecting someone’s dignity means recognizing their right to make their own decisions. But if a patient doesn’t have the “decisional capacity” to give legal informed consent, the ethical professional must get “assent”—a simpler agreement from the patient—along with the legal consent of a guardian. Ethical Principles make sure that a person’s voice is still heard in therapy, even if they can’t legally sign a form.

3. Justice: Equity in Treatment

Justice necessitates that all individuals, irrespective of their mental or physical condition, are afforded equal ethical consideration. In historical psychological research, vulnerable populations were frequently exploited due to their “convenience” (e.g., prisoners or institutionalized individuals). Applying ethical principles now means making sure that these groups aren’t unfairly chosen for high-risk research or kept from getting the benefits of new treatments.

Privacy, Confidentiality, and the Law

A major component of Applying Ethical Principles is navigating the boundaries of confidentiality. While patients generally have a right to privacy, that right is not absolute.

• Mandated Reporting: If a psychologist suspects the abuse of a child or an elder, the principle of Non-maleficence and state law require them to break confidentiality.
• Harm to Self or Others: The duty to protect overrides the duty of secrecy.
• HIPAA Compliance: Professionals must use standardized methods to protect electronic health information, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Resolving Dilemmas: A Decision-Making Model

To reach a “Distinguished” level of analysis, students should apply a formal decision-making model:

1. Identify the Dilemma: (e.g., A teenager discloses illegal drug use but asks the therapist not to tell their parents).
2. Refer to the APA Code: Standard 4.02 (Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality).
3. Evaluate the Stakeholders: How will telling the parents affect the therapeutic relationship? How will not telling them affect the minor’s safety?
4. Select the Action: Determine if the drug use constitutes an “imminent harm” requiring a breach of confidentiality.

PSYC FPX 1000 Assessment 3: Conclusion

A professional psychologist or nurse is someone who follows ethical rules. It needs a careful mix of compassion, legal knowledge, and philosophical rigor. By putting the rights of the weak first and following the APA Ethics Code, healthcare professionals protect the integrity of their field and make sure that psychological science continues to be a force for good.