PRIVACY, ETHICS, AND CONFIDENTIALITY

Discusses privacy and confidentiality with respect to primary providers of psychological services, focusing on the client-practitioner relationship, and does not attempt to resolve questions about data bases and the like. Confidential information should not be disclosed, except if required by law; but changes in laws should be sought where needed. Casual breaches in privacy should be avoided, and psychologists should generally not answer questions on the telephone. They should have a will calling for destruction of records or their being given to a responsible colleague for disposition, in case of death. All matters regarding confidentiality should be made clear to the client at the start of therapy. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.