ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses selected aspects of professional ethics in relationship to the psychological assessment of chronic pain patients. The American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct will be used as a reference. “Ethics is the study of those assumptions held by individuals, institutions, organizations, and professions that they believe will assist them in distinguishing between right and wrong and, ultimately, in making sound moral judgment”. Application of the Ethics Code is restricted in the introduction to psychologists’ activities that are part of their scientific, educational, or professional roles as psychologists. The Ethics Code also stipulates that, in the absence of a patient release of information, psychologists provide test data only as required by law or court order. Standard 2.01 of the Ethical Code mandates that psychologists provide services “with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience”.
