Canadian Psychological Association, "CPA Code of Ethics"
Notable because the procedure is an integral part of a code of ethics
SOURCE FOR THE PROCEDURE
Canadian Psychological Association. "The Ethical Decision-making Process." Candian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. 1991. http://www.cpa.ca/ethics.html#ethic (7 Jun. 1999)
THE PROCEDURE ITSELF
- Identification of ethically relevant issues and practices.
- Development of alternative courses of action.
- Analysis of likely short-term, ongoing, and long-term risks and benefits of each course of action on the individual(s)/group(s) involved or likely to be affected (e.g., client, client's family or employees, employing institution, students, research participants, colleagues, the discipline, society, self).
- Choice of course of action after conscientious application of existing principles, values, and standards.
- Action, with a commitment to assume responsibility for the consequences of the action.
- Evaluation of the results of the course of action.
- Assumption of responsibility for consequences of action, including correction of negative consequences, if any, or re-engaging in the decision-making process if the ethical issue is not resolved.
WALT'S CHECKLIST
The same checklist was applied to all procedures.
- This method is most useful when the DECISION-MAKER ...
- has high initial sensitivity to relevant ethical "features" [step 1]
- has plenty of time for investigation and analysis [step 3]
- is skilled in the application of general ethical principles to specific
cases [step 4]
- uses a "bookkeeping" system that allows multiple alternatives to be
tracked, scored, ranked and compared [step 3]
- This method is most useful in a SITUATION ...
- where much is at stake [step 3]
- This method is most useful when STAKEHOLDERS ...
- share ethical codes or policies [step 4]
- share ethical principles [step 4]
- share values [step 4]
