ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the main ethical and legal issues in psychological therapies for the elderly. The issues to be considered are: diagnosis as an ethical problem; consent to therapy and research participation; confidentiality; and the role of the psychologist as clinician, scientist and bureaucrat. The interest in psychiatric ethics has spilled over into psychology, especially the practice of clinical psychology. The ethical dilemma of diagnosis is discussed because other professionals, especially clinical psychologists, often participate in assessment and diagnosis and are, therefore, frequently collaborators in curtailing patients' freedom. The issue of consent to treatment or research participation is one of the most contentious issues in health care. Most codes of ethical conduct for professionals allow for breaches of confidentiality under exceptional circumstances and if it is in the patient's interests. Ethical practice can be promoted through the teaching of ethics during the training of psychologists and other mental health care professionals.