leroya...
The American Psychological Association's website
has a page devoted to the psychologist's ethical code
which became effective on December 1, 1992, called:
"ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS AND CODE OF CONDUCT"
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code1992.html
A search of that page turns up no hits for the word
"alcohol". It is common to refrain from defining the
behavior of professionals with that degree of
specificity, out of respect for the intelligence of
a person who has survived the arduous process
necessary to become such a professional.
The term commonly used to categorize alcohol abuse
in the psychiatric professions is "impairment".
A search for "impaired" produces the following:
"1.13 Personal Problems and Conflicts."
"(a) Psychologists recognize that their personal
problems and conflicts may interfere with their
effectiveness. Accordingly, they refrain from
undertaking an activity when they know or should
know that their personal problems are likely to
lead to harm to a patient, client, colleague,
student, research participant, or other person
to whom they may owe a professional or
scientific obligation."
"(b) In addition, psychologists have an obligation
to be alert to signs of, and to obtain assistance
for, their personal problems at an early stage,
in order to prevent significantly impaired
performance."
"(c) When psychologists become aware of personal
problems that may interfere with their performing
work-related duties adequately, they take
appropriate measures, such as obtaining
professional consultation or assistance, and
determine whether they should limit, suspend,
or terminate their work-related duties."
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code1992.html#1.13
The Code has recently been revised, and the new
version will go into effect on June 1, 2003.
It is available here:
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html
A search for "alcohol" in the new code returns
no results, which is, again, not surprising.
What IS surprising is that the word "impaired"
is not found either. The new code says this:
"2.06 Personal Problems and Conflicts"
"(a) Psychologists refrain from initiating an
activity when they know or should know that
there is a substantial likelihood that their
personal problems will prevent them from
performing their work-related activities in
a competent manner."
"(b) When psychologists become aware of personal
problems that may interfere with their
performing work-related duties adequately,
they take appropriate measures, such as
obtaining professional consultation or
assistance, and determine whether they should
limit, suspend, or terminate their work-related
duties."
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html#2_06
In short, the line between alcohol "use" and "abuse"
is not spelled out for the professional psychologist
any more than it is for any other person. It is up
to the individual to determine when the use of
alcohol is becoming an impairment. In theory, the
conscience of the professional in the psychiatric
professions is more finely tuned to this potential.
In addition, professionals in this field are under
more of an obligation to self-police, reporting
colleagues who demonstrate unethical standards of
practice and behavior.
Having said all this, I will add, from my experience
in the field of mental health, that it is a rare
professional who will abuse the broad guidelines
quoted above and have a drink at lunchtime, or
come to work impaired from the night before.
If you feel that you've had an experience with a
psychologist which was less than professional or
satisfactory due to their use of alcohol, you are
certainly within your rights to report it.
Searches done, via Google:
psychiatric "code of ethics"
://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=psychiatric+%22code+of+ethics%22
Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that the
answer cannot be improved upon by means of a dialog with
the researcher through the "Request for Clarification" process.
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