Ethical Principles, Global Health Crisis and Mental Health Law

Law

It refers to rules established by the government or other legislative bodies that individuals are expected to follow for the good of society.

Ethics

It refers to a body of principles concerning right, proper, or good conduct.

Autonomy

An individual’s right to make their own choices and decisions.

Informed Consent

A psychologist explains the goals, procedures, possible risks, benefits, and fees of therapy. The client decides whether to proceed.

Beneficence

It means acting in ways that benefit the client and promote their well-being.

Beneficence

Suppose a psychologist recognizes that a client's condition requires specialized expertise that the psychologist does not possess.

Instead of continuing treatment beyond their competence, the psychologist refers the client to an appropriate specialist.

Non-Maleficence

It requires psychologists to avoid causing unnecessary physical, psychological, emotional, or social harm.

Non-Maleficence

A researcher conducts a study that may cause temporary psychological discomfort. The researcher establishes procedures to minimize harm and provides appropriate debriefing and support afterward.

Justice

Psychologists should ensure that people receive fair treatment and equitable access to psychological services.

Justice

A psychologist notices that personal assumptions about a client's cultural background could influence the assessment. The psychologist consciously examines those assumptions and ensures that the assessment remains fair.

Privacy

An individual's right to control personal information and to be free from unwarranted intrusion.

Physical Privacy

Freedom from unwanted physical intrusion.

Informational Privacy

Control over personal information

Decisional Privacy

Freedom to make personal decisions

Privacy

A person's privacy may be violated when someone collects or records personal information without appropriate permission.

Confidentiality

The professional and ethical duty to protect information entrusted to the psychologist.

Informed Consent

An essential ethical requirement in psychological practice.

Consent

Legally valid authorization to participate

Assent

Agreement or willingness expressed by an individual who may not have the legal capacity to provide formal consent.

Competence

Means practicing within the boundaries of one's education, training, supervised experience, consultation, and professional expertise.

RA 10029

Also known as the Philippine Psychology Act of 2009, only licensed and registered psychologists and psyshometricians are legally allowed to practice within the scope prescribed by law.

Human Relations

Ethical psychological practice requires respectful and non-discriminatory relationships.

Multiple Relationships

A psychologist provides therapy to a client and simultaneously enters into a business partnership with that same client.

Conflict of Interest

Occurs when personal, professional, financial, legal, scientific, or other interests could interfere with the psychologist's professional responsibilities.

RA 11036

The Mental Health Law, establishes a national mental health policy.

Legal Representative

the Mental Health Law, establishes a national mental health policy.

M’Naghten Rule

Did the person's mental condition prevent them from understanding the nature or wrongfulness of their behavior?

Durham Rule

Also called the product test, focuses on whether the criminal act was the product of a mental disease or defect.

Under this approach, an accused person may not be held criminally responsible if the unlawful act resulted From a mental disease or defect.

American Law Institute (ALI)

The focus is on the person's capacity to understand/appreciate the wrongfulness of their behavior in relation to their mental condition.

Competence to Stand Trial

A defendant who cannot understand the proceedings or meaningfully assist in their defense may be considered incompetent to stand trial.

Diminished Capacity

It refers to circumstances in which a mental disorder may reduce a person's ability to understand or form the required criminal intent.

Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI)

It does not mean "the person did not commit the act." It concerns criminal responsibility.

Guilty but Mentally Ill (GBMI)

• The person is found guilty.

• The person remains legally responsible for the crime.

• Mental illness may affect sentencing or treatment.

• The individual may receive treatment.

• After treatment or commitment, the individual may still serve the remainder of the sentence

Prediction of Dangerousness

Is difficult because human behavior is complex and future behavior cannot be predicted with absolute certainty.

Individual rights

The rights and freedoms of the person receiving mental health services.

Public safety

The right of society to be protected from serious and imminent danger.