Practitioner ethics is a complex issue that invokes questions regarding the basis of morality and the nature of ethical decision making. It is argued that the current professional code of conduct and training models based on it are too simplistic and do not capture the complexity of real-life ethical dilemmas. Most current ethical codes are too linear and do not incorporate decision hierarchies, nor do they aim at educating would-be practitioners. A revision of the current South African code of conduct for psychologists is proposed that transcends the present focus on statutory and authoritarian principles. Recommendations are also made for improving the ethical training of practitioners, starting with improved teaching of ethics and the cultivation of an ethical character.
BradleyL. J.HendricksC. B. (2002, January). Implementing ethical decision-making models. Paper presented at the American Association of State Counseling Boards Conference, Tucson, AR
2.
BurkeA. (2006). Mental health care during apartheid in South Africa: An illustration of how ‘science’ can be abused. In ParryJ. T. (Ed.), Evil, law and the state: Perspectives on state power and violence (pp. 87–100). Amsterdam: Rodopi
3.
DohertyW. J. (1995). Soul searching: Why psychotherapy must promote moral responsibility.New York: Basic Books
4.
FawcettJ. (2004). Clinical ethics and the culture of expediency. Psychiatric Annals, 34(2), 80
5.
FurrowD. (1995). Against theory: Continental and analytic challenges in moral philosophy.New York: Routledge
6.
HadjistavropoulosT.MalloyD. C.SharpeD.GreenS. M.LacelleS. F. (2002). The relative importance of the ethical principles adopted by the American Psychological Association. Canadian Psychology, 43(4), 254–260
7.
HammondK. R. (1996). Human judgement and social policy: Irreducible uncertainty, inevitable error, unavoidable injustice.New York: Oxford University Press
8.
KaschakE.HillM. (Eds.) (1999). Beyond the rule book: Moral issues and dilemmas in the practice of psychotherapy.New York: Haworth Press
9.
MacIntyreA. (1997). After virtue: A study in moral theory (2nd ed.). London: Duckworth
10.
MalloyD. C.HadjistavropoulosT.DonaudP.SmytheW. E. (2002). The codes of ethics of the Canadian Psychological Association: Ethical orientation and functional grammar analysis. Canadian Psychology, 43(4), 244–254
11.
PettiforJ. L.PaquetS. (2002). Preferred strategies for learning ethics in the practice of a discipline. Canadian Psychology, 43(4), 260–278
12.
PillayA. L.WassenaarD. R.KramersA. L. (2004). Attendance at psychological consultations following non-fatal suicidal behaviour: An ethical dilemma. South African Journal of Psychology, 34(3), 350–363
13.
Professional Board of Psychology (PBP). (2004, January). Rules of conduct pertaining specifically to psychology. Retrieved February 24, 2006, from http://www. psyssa.com/aboutus/codeofconduct.asp
14.
RailbornC. A.PayneD. (1990). Corporate codes of conduct: A collective conscience and continuum. Journal of Business Ethics, 9, 879–889
SankaranS.BuiT. (2003). Relationship between student characteristics and ethics: Implications for educators. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 30(3), 240–254
17.
ScaturoD. J.McPeakW. R. (1998). Clinical dilemmas in contemporary psychotherapy: The search for clinical wisdom. Psychotherapy, 35, 1–12
18.
ScherrerR.LouwD. A.MöllerA. T. (2002). Ethical complaints and disciplinary action against South African psychologists. South African Journal of Psychology, 32(1), 54–64
19.
TjelveitA. C. (1999). Ethics and values in psychotherapy.London: Routledge
WilliamsB. (1997). Morality: An introduction to ethics.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
22.
WilliamsT. (2004). Setting impossible standards: The model of ethical decision-making associated with the New Zealand Psychologists' Code of Ethics. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 33(1), 26–34
23.
WoodL. (2002). Beyond the oxymoron: Can business ethics pay?. The Galt Global Review, 15, 1–2
