Review of Ethics for the practice of psychology in Canada (revised and expanded edition).

Abstract

Ethics for the Practice of Psychology in Canada (Revised and Expanded Edition), by Derek Truscott and Kenneth H. Crook. Edmonton, Alberta: University of Alberta Press. 2013, 236 Pages (ISBN 978-0-88864-652-1, CAN $49.95)Reviewed by DAVID R. EVANSDOI: 10.1037/a0035674Psychologists-whether practitioners, researchers or aca- demics-encounter issues in their work regularly if not daily. Hence, there is a need for a system of ethics to assist them with the myriad issues they encounter. The Canadian Psychological Association Code of Ethics for Psychologists (CPA Code of Ethics) provides such a system of ethics. Over the years of teaching ethics to graduate students, the majority indicated that the CPA Code of Ethics was the most useful approach to solving issues that they encountered, rather than a prescriptive approach that had limitations. I feel this preamble is important in placing the Truscott and Crook book in context. The authors base much of the discussion of the many topics they cover in relation to the principles and prin- ciples of the CPA Code of Ethics. Given its reliance on the CPA Code of Ethics, its readability, and its thoroughness, the book is an excellent textbook or reference book for senior undergrad- uates and entry-level graduate students, as well as for practi- tioners wishing to renew their acquaintance with the range of questions they encounter in their practice.The opening paragraph of the Introduction quickly makes the case for the importance of a knowledge of ethics to the profession of psychology. After defining ethics, the authors distinguish be- tween descriptive and prescriptive ethics, and then place ethics in comparison to practice standards and the law. Next the authors argue that behaving as an professional goes beyond a set of rules because ethical standards and expectations evolve and change (p. xx), and further the rules cannot anticipate every dilemma. In the last part of the Introduction the authors outline the various learning devices they provide to help the reader get the most out of the book. These include discussion questions, reflective journaling, case studies, and recommended read- ing.The first three chapters focus on systems, professional standards, and legal expectations. An important focus in the first chapter is to place our professional ethics in the context of four foundational systems: Teleology, Deontology, Rational Ethics, and Virtue Ethics. The description of the four systems and their evaluation is very brief and may leave readers who are unfamiliar with theories a bit confounded. Following this discussion, the authors provide a history of the CPA Code of Ethics for Psychologists: its history, and the four hierarchical principles that are central to the code. The second chapter is excellent, providing a succinct, generic description of the provin- cial and territorial provisions that regulate the profession of psy- chology. Topics covered in the chapter include: entrance stan- dards, professional standards, and practice guidelines; the importance of ethics committees and provincial and territorial discipline committees in maintaining professional accountability; the anatomy of the provincial complaints process; and discipline hearings. Finally, in the chapter, the authors stress the responsi- bility placed on psychologists to regulate themselves, and to re- spond to unethical or unprofessional behaviour on the part of colleagues. In the third chapter the authors provide information about the legal system so that psychologists can avoid behaviours that might prompt others to seek legal remediation (p. 41). They describe the legal system as adversarial, visible and remedial, and they go on to distinguish between criminal and civil law. Next, they consider the important components of negligence in terms of duty of care, reasonable care, causation, and the plaintiff's con- duct. …