Code of Professional Ethics

Federation of Venezuelan Psychologists

Article 1: Following the current Code is mandatory for every psychologist that practices

the profession in the Venezuelan territory. No Board of Psychologists may proclaim

professional deontological norms contrary to, or that may diminish in any way those

norms established by the current Code.

Article 2: Equally mandatory for psychologists from the Board under whose jurisdiction

they practice, and from the Psychological Institute of Social Security, are the regulations

contained in the Law of Practicing Psychology as well as in the regulations, agreements,

resolutions and other decisions by the Federation of Venezuelan Psychologists.

Article 3: Whoever violates the regulations of this Code will be prosecuted in accordance

with the stipulations by the respective Rules of Discipline, and sanctioned as provided by

the Law of Practicing Psychology and its rules.

Article 4: Applied Psychology is eminently dignified and humane.

Article 5: Psychologists are obliged to practice their profession under moral and actual

conditions that will guarantee its scientific quality and the eminently humane goals that

must characterize it.

Article 6: Aside from the practice of psychology, and even as far as in their private life,

psychologists must maintain at a high esteem their personal and professional dignity.

Article 7: Sanctions here stipulated will be applied without any civil or penal prejudice.

Article 8: Integrity, independence, generosity, objectiveness and impartiality are essential

duties of the profession of psychology. Equally essential are fraternity, liberty, justice and

equality, as well as the respect for inherent human rights indicated in the Chart of Human

Rights and in the Declaration of Principles of the Professional University Boards.

Article 9: By virtue of the previous Article under de facto governments that ignore the

exercise of liberty and the supremacy of human dignity, psychologists should restrict the

fulfillment of their professional duties without affecting that which is established in

Article 250 of the National Constitution.

Article 10: Same as a moral duty, intellectual honesty is an ethical duty for the

psychologist. If moral honesty represents scrupulous respect for the rules, intellectual

honesty represents scrupulous respect for the truth that must always be present in the

practice of every psychologist.

Article 11: Psychologists should always present information in a sound and objective

manner.

Article 12: Psychologists must cooperate selfishly in all activities that may contribute to

the development of psychology as a science and as a profession.

Article 13: Psychologists are obliged to fulfill their professional duties in a highly

dedicated and forthright manner. In addition, they must contribute with their example and

behavior to increase the ethic, scientific and cultural level in their professional specialty.

Article 14: A constant dedication for intellectual development is ethically unavoidable

for any psychologist. He/she must strive to be constantly updated about knowledge and

the progress of the science.

Article 15: It becomes one of the most relevant duties of psychologists to respect human

integrity in the different areas that they perform. When providing services to individuals

or institutions, and in the areas of pure and applied research, psychologists must be

constantly vigilant for the welfare of individuals and society.

Article 16: Psychologists must be in satisfactory psychophysical conditions in order to

offer their professional services. Acute or chronic mental disorders, sensorial disability

that reduces the areas of consciousness and any disabling addiction are contrary to the

aforementioned principle.

Article 17: It is prohibited for psychologists the use of any means, tools and techniques

that suggest the consumption of drugs or psychoactive substances for professional

purposes. Otherwise, they will be penalized with the severest of ethical sanctions,

without affecting what is indicated in the Penal Code.

Article 18: Under any circumstance, psychologists must strive to portray a respectable

image for their profession, gaining for it social recognition through prestige based in the

highest standards of dignity and in the scientific quality of the profession.

Article 19: Psychologists must preserve their independence under any circumstance in

which they practice the profession. They will not accept any suggestion contrary to the

professional pristine honorability. When necessary, they will develop their activity in

and impartial, objective and independent manner.

Article 20: It is prohibited for psychologists to give misleading reports, to extend

undeserved certifications and prescriptions, and extend certifications and reports without

previous assessment based on direct and personal observation.

Article 21: It is against professional ethics to accept more than one remunerated position

at the same organization, or to replace a colleague that has been unfairly fired. It is

considered unfair removal from a job if a psychologist is displaced without the

correspondent documentation of defense.

Article 22: It is against the professional ethics of psychologists to accept more than one

remunerated job when this implies the overload of the schedule.

Article 23: Courtesy, consideration and mutual respect are duties of psychologists.

Likewise, they will exhibit a private conduct comparable in honor, dignity and

sensitivity.

Article 24: Psychologists must lawfully reject censurable behavior by their colleagues, as

well as that of public servants who may have consulted for their expertise. It becomes an

unavoidable duty to formulate the corresponding charges.

Article 25: When professional services are required, psychologists are not allowed to

accept or refuse tasks due to lack of personal or monetary motives. In addition, they will

not accept those tasks that would involve principles contrary to their personal or scientific

convictions, or that may compromise or limit their independence.

Article 26: Psychologists should pay attention to every client, regardless of their

nationality, ethnicity, gender, age, religion creed, political ideas or social position.

Article 27: In their work with the community, psychologists must strive to develop

programs and to use techniques and procedures for the solution of community problems.

Article 28: Psychologists who employ, or are executive administrators of private or

public organizations, are prohibited to hire, train or promote employees based on ethnic,

gender, nationality social position, political or religious ideas, or for motives of

friendship.

Article 29: It is considered incompatible for psychologists to practice simultaneously

with their profession any other occupation that is odds with the professional dignity.

Article 30: It is not ethically allowed for psychologists to allege or assume personal

qualifications or titles that they do not have.

Article 31: Psychologists incur severe ethic violations if either individually with others,

harm comes to a client or a third person through the use of the profession.

Article 32: Psychologists should provide services pro bono to individuals with limited

funds who require them. Otherwise, the client should be referred to other centers which

may provide services for free, or to benefit from that which is indicated by the Board of

Psychologists.

Article 33: Professional ethics demands that psychologists abstain from debasing their

colleagues and forbids them to take advantage of the knowledge about aspects to their

personal life to cause professional or personal harm and to damage their prestige.

Article 34: Psychologists will not regularly or permanently practice their profession in a

different federal entity where ordinarily they exercise it, unless the psychologists reports

to the respective Board and accepts regulations of such Board.

Article 35: Psychologists, who for any circumstance, stop practicing the profession or

change the jurisdiction must report it to the Board of the area in which they regularly

perform.

Article 36: Psychologists that fulfill executive or disciplinary responsibilities at the

Federation of Psychologists of Venezuela or at any Board of Psychologists must follow

the decisions taken by the majority of votes within the national or regional organizations.

The dissent of any of the participants may be done through the internal or public

communication media or of the organization to which it belongs.

Article 37: With previous authorization by the respective Board, psychologists have the

right to use the media to inform about their professional practice, provided that they do so

with moderation and seriousness. It is the duty of the Directive Committee to study and

to evaluate its content and its accordance to the rules stipulated in the following Article.

Article 38: In order to advertise their services through the mass media, psychologists

must:

a) Develop the correspondent advertisement by indicating: name, address, specialty,

phone, timetable, and their number of identification of the Federation of Psychologists of

Venezuela (FPV Nº).

b) To submit the advertisement to the approval Board, which will be registered in the

same text.

c) The dimensions of the advertisement will be in accordance to the usages of any

services in professional directories of the publication in which it is advertised.

Advertisements through the media to promote statements related to the practice of

Psychology will be submitted to the aforesaid regarding the individual advertisement of

professionals, indicating the identification of the Psychologists responsible for those

statements. In such cases, the dimensions of the advertisements will be adjusted to the

practice usually followed in such cases.

Article 39: The formal plates for advertisements used by psychologists in their offices,

clinics, institutes, and other, will not include more information than the aforementioned,

and their dimensions will nor exceed 20 x 60 centimeters.

Article 40: Plates used to advertise establishments related to the practice of psychology

will only contain the name of the establishment and will never exceed the dimensions of

(1) one meter high per (2) two meter length. They will be prepared without neon lights

and in a sober manner.

Article 41: Calling cards of psychologists will not include more data than what is

indicated in a) Article 38 and may include the symbol: Psic. ( ψ ). Those psychologists

who represent an institution are able to use the logo of such institution, provided that this

usage is not contrary to what is established on Article 38 of this Code.

Article 42: It is prohibited for psychologists any form of unfair competition. Such

competition is implied in offers or miraculous or magical cures, through such means as

phrases, drawings or similar symbols.

Article 43: Psychologists are required to discourage intrusiveness in all of its aspects and

to report to the appropriate Board any act oriented to exploit the truthfulness and good

faith of the public.

Article 44: Boards and scientific associations of Psychology should stimulate the starting

of activities of advisement or information from practicing psychologists and assist them

in the face of intrusions or labor difficulties.

Article 45: It is a right of every Psychology to develop a clientele by legal means. It is

considered a violation of ethical norms: to solicit clients directly or indirectly; to publicly

promote the establishment where the psychologist works, the stirring publicity for self

praise; to maintain agents that will procure clients; to give unsolicited advise and

opinions, and pay directly or indirectly persons who have recommended a psychologist.

Article 46: To offer psychological services or do diagnostic studies on a case for the

purposes of training is against professional ethics. Intervention or consultation by means

of conferences, public shows, and Articles on print or electronic media, correspondence

and other impersonal means should take place only for didactic or scientific purposes.

Article 47: It is against professional ethics:

a) Press advertisement that exceeds those mentioned above.

b) Participation of psychologists programs, interviews or publications in radio, television

and print or electronic media whose intent is not to provide scientific information or

orientation.

c) Any press or release or interventions of psychologists in mass media on labor matters

that are not strictly related to the regulations of this Code, to the Institutional Law and

regulations of Union.

d) To sign false certificates.

Article 48: It is forbidden to have publications of non-psychological articles in

newspapers, magazines and other non- scientific media, aside from those with

informative purposes subject to the regulations of Article 47 ordinal b).

Article 49: In their professional performance psychologists must abstain from acts that

are against morals and good ways, alleging that a certain therapeutic situation is indicated

for the client.

Article 50: For those who are in positions of political power, administrative charges or in

union directive responsibilities, it is forbidden to use such advantages to obtain

professional profit.

Article 51: Specification of ethic duties concerning each area of practice of the

profession in no way circumscribes the moral responsibility of the psychologist, whom

other regulations of this Code equally oblige, according to due circumstances.

Article 52: Every psychologist should reject situations of privilege, seniority and undue

influences by persons or groups. They will only allow preferences when the needs of the

case demand them and without harming third parties.

Article 53: It is the duty of every psychologist to endorse psychological reports with their

signature and the Federation ID number.

CHAPTER I

About Ethical Duties in the Area of Research Article 54: Research in psychology must be inspired in the most elevated ethical and

scientific principles.

Article 55: Research in psychology must be performed and supervised by technically

trained and scientifically qualified individuals.

Article 56: For those individuals who suffer from mental disorders or behavioral

deficiencies or abnormalities, written consent must be obtained from their representatives

or whoever exercises such role in order to become participants of research.

Article 57: In order to protect physical and mental integrity of individuals, human

research must fulfill the following requisites:

a) Every person should express with the outmost freedom their willingness to accept or

refuse their condition of subjects of experimentation, with the exception of cases

contemplated in the previous article.

b) Should have the faculty to stop the experience at any moment.

c) Should be properly informed about the nature, scope, aims and consequences that

might be expected from the experiment, except for those cases in which information may

alter the outcomes.

d) The needed medical and psychological attention should be guaranteed during the time

that the experimentation takes place, and even after this has been concluded due to the

consequences that might result from it.

e) Procedures that allow compensating for any risk derived form the experience must be

established.

Article 58: Any intervention or professional action by psychology on individuals, small

groups, or the community must be regulated by the same ethic norms relative to research.

Article 59: Any research must be qualified in terms of their actual need, scope and risks.

Researchers should be extremely cautious when debriefing the actual reasons of the

research.

Article 60: Researchers should guarantee the anonymity of the answers by participants of

research and avoid possible moral harm.

Article 61: It is against ethics to inform participants that results of research will be used

to solve a certain problem without striving toward such direction later.

Article 62: Disagreement with the results of a study or research is not an admissible

reason to prevent its publication.

Article 63: As a scientist, psychologists should as much as possible, communicate the

outcomes of their investigation to other researchers.

Article 64: Psychologists are personally responsible for the dissemination of their

research and therefore, they may not authorize those publications that do adjust to their

requirements.

Article 65: When psychologists accept a job that impedes or limits the publication of

results of their research, should insist as much as possible for the publication of the core

conclusions as a contribution to the development of psychology as a science or for

common welfare.

Article 66: Psychologists that interpret concepts and perform psychological services for

the public have the duty to inform them clearly and faithfully. Any exaggeration,

sensationalism, superficiality or premature information about recent progress must be

avoided. Humbleness and discretion should characterize the dissemination of

information by psychologists. They should not authorize the publication of research

outcomes without assurance that a serious, impartial and adequate interpretation will be

given.

Article 67: Before allowing the public dissemination of results about which competent

researchers disagree, psychologists must carefully consequences of such publication

about the public interpretation of issues related to those results, and take the appropriate

measures to clarify about the discrepancy.

Article 68: When psychological information is posted in newspapers or journals,

psychologists should be assured that the editor is responsible for the publication, for the

interpretation of the public about issues related to results, and take the necessary

measures to clarify when there is no agreement between both of them.

Article 69: Psychologists will assume the outmost responsibility in disseminating

psychological information in order to adequately serve the public and thus protect the

prestige of the profession.

Article 70: Psychologists should fairly acknowledge the work of all those who contribute

to the publication of books, articles and research papers. Those who contribute to a

publication must receive the appropriate acknowledgement in accordance to the extent of

their work, and taking only this into consideration. Also, the nature of the contribution

must be mentioned, specifying if it is about research projects, data gathering, editing or

others.

Article 71: Psychologists who occupy administrative positions must appear as

contributors in professional reports only if they have substantially contributed with their

work to perform the investigation or edit the mentioned report.

Article 72: It must be agreed beforehand about mentioning who will be responsible for

what as well as the participation on the economic remuneration, if there is one, when a

collective project or program is initiated.

Article 73: Materials published by an author and used by another in a further publication

must be used only with permission of whoever owns the copyright. In cases where

copyright does not exist, permission must be obtained from the author of the original

work, and declare the appropriate provenance. Psychologists should carefully

acknowledge through all the citations the origin of ideas and materials.

Article 74: Materials edited by members of an organization with its resources and as part

of their duties, are the property of that organization. Such materials will only be utilized

or published with the authorization of the organization. All profit or benefits provided

by it need to be fairly distributed among the contributors.

Article 75: Psychologists who purport to utilize in their writings research data belonging

to the institution in which they are employed, should previously obtain its authorization.

CHAPTER II

About the Ethical Duties in the Academic Area Article 76: Primary duties of psychologists in the academia area are, the permanent

respect to human dignity, and the common well-being as their main purpose.

Article 77: Psychologists will not allow the utilization of teaching as a source of control,

submission or exploitation of some people by others.

Article 78: Under any circumstances, professors of psychology will keep in mind that the

main goal of education is the full development of democracy, fostering culture, and the

solidarity among man.

Article 79: It is considered a severe violation of professional ethical norms in the

academia area:

a) To participate collectively or individually in activities that will harm the principles of

the United Nations Organization in the Declaration of Human Rights.

b) Notorious misbehavior, private or public.

c) Proven pedagogical or scientific incompetence.

d) Repeated negligence of duties as a professor.

Article 80: Psychologists dedicated to teaching have the obligation to fulfill with the

outmost devotion and effort the tasks proper of their functions. They will also contribute

with role modeling and their behavior to increase the ethical, scientific and cultural level

in their professional area.

Article 81: Psychologists should stimulate students in their search of knowledge,

supporting freedom in pursue of their ideas.

Article 82: The diverse schools of Psychology should be introduced to students in such a

way as to motivate them to study facts by themselves, and attain their own conclusions.

The free expression of criticism to the diverse theories and psychological systems should

always be stimulated as the essence of development of students and the field of

psychology.

Article 83: Psychologists who teach must keep strict supervision of their students in the

application, scoring and interpretation of psychological tests, as well as in the feedback of

results, constantly looking after the fulfillment of the Code of Ethics.

Article 84: At the beginning of their courses teaching psychologists should do mandatory

reference to the contents of the current Code of Ethics, thus guaranteeing its better

dissemination and knowledge.

CHAPTER III

About the Ethical Duties Relative to Resources and Tools for Psychological Work

Article 85: Material accredited for “psychological usage” must be reserved for those who

have the appropriate psychological training and have accepted the obligations inherent on

its usage.

Article 86: Authors as well as distributors of accredited materials for psychological usage

must contribute to their professional control, avoiding the spread of information, while

restricting their distribution to those enterprises which are accredited.

Article 87: Unless having ownership, no psychologist or editorial may reproduce

materials accredited for “psychological usage.” No unauthorized modifications should be

introduced for commercial purposes without written consent of the author or authors.

The type, extension and date of authorization should be visible.

Article 88: Provisional editions of psychological materials will be used only for a limited

time. Neither commercialization nor general distribution should be allowed. Their

provisional status should be visible, as a well as the date of their printing and the

corresponding authorization.

Article 89: It is the duty of psychologists and editorial firms of material accredited for

“psychological usage” to prevent their used by persons outside of the profession.

Article 90: Every Board of Psychologists within their respective jurisdiction will watch

over editorials or firms that distribute psychological materials making sure the effective

control of their professional publications.

Article 91: Psychologists will only use materials accredited for “psychological usage”

with recognized and researched characteristics. Materials accredited for “psychological

usage” that have not reached this level may only be used for teaching or research

purposes with a previous clarification of their status.

Article 92: Psychological tests are auxiliary tools for specific purposes of work and do

not provide by themselves enough evidence for diagnosis.

Article 93: It is the duty of every psychologist to denounce before the Board of Directors

the use of psychological tests by non professionals, with the exception of cases

established in Article 95, or when these are introduced as advertisement with magical or

esoteric bent.

Article 94: Undue usage of the word psychological test aside of the professional context

as established in the current Code should be denounced as harmful, deceitful and

inappropriate and its use would be prohibited.

Article 95: Psychological tests will be classified in three categories:

1) Tests of application and interpretation accessible to all personnel of the behavioral

sciences properly trained and under supervision of a psychologist.

2) Tests of free application by every professional or technician properly trained, but

exclusively interpreted by psychologists.

3) Tests for the exclusive application and use by psychologists.

UNIQUE PARAGRAPH: In category 3), represents an unethical procedure for

psychologists the use of any of these tests without proper training or specialization.

CHAPTER IV

About the Ethical Duties

Before the Public Authorities Article 96: Psychologists should be always willing to cooperate with public authorities

and very particularly with those of administration of justice. Before them, psychologists

will maintain a respectful attitude without diminishing their independence and autonomy.

Article 97: It is the duty of psychologists to demonstrate punctuality in the provision of

required reports, and attend the tribunals and other public offices if necessary.

Article 98: Psychologists will adhere to the corresponding legal disposition in the release

of their reports, and give their opinion with objectivity and scientific impartiality,

reporting only truth and justice.

Article 99: Psychologists who work with government agencies will never loose sight of

national problems. As a consequence, psychologists should implement their technology

in relation to the solution of such problems.

Article 100: It is the duty of psychologist, their union organizations and scientific

associations to cooperate through science in the proposal and search of solutions to those

problems facing the nation.

CHAPTER V

About the Duties of Psychologists

With the Client Article 101: Psychologists will always resort to appropriate technical and scientific

procedures in order to provide due professional services to those who require them.

Equally, they will pursue by all means, that instructions be fulfilled.

Article 102: If psychologists find a justifiable reason not to continuing offering services

to the client, they may do so provided that no harm comes to the client as a consequence

of such action. In any case, the client should be previously informed of the psychologists’

decision. The necessary information must be made available so that another psychologist

may continue assisting the client.

Article 103: Psychologists are not obliged to rehabilitate clients, if such is the case, but

they at least should apply strategies for intervention that would ease the conflict or

problem.

Article 104: While acting in their professional capacity, psychologists should behave

with the outmost dignity towards the advisees and the relative, institutions or firms, if no

harm will come out from the special mission that they have been entrusted.

Article 105: Psychologists should avoid offering their services when they consider that

there is no need. Therefore, psychologists should inform the person requiring those

services as soon as possible that these are not necessary. In the case that psychologists

cannot make this known to the client, they should inform the relatives, or if such is the

case, the institution or firm.

Article 106: In the course of their practice psychologists are obliged to consider, when

necessary, the contribution of other disciplines to better assist the problem presented by

the client. Inasmuch as possible, psychologists should conduct interdisciplinary work in

order to provide holistic assistance to the case under study.

Article 107: Psychologists should not diagnose, prescribe, treat or advise a client about

disorders that are beyond the scope of recognized psychological practice.

Article 108: Psychologists are not allowed to unjustifiably abandon any case, assessment

or professional matter under their care.

Article 109: If psychologists are in a relationship of friendship with the client or another

psychologist, the first one should abstain from making harmful remarks regarding

diagnosis or treatment, because that is harmful for the profession and the trust of their

colleagues.

Article 110: Referral to clients between two or more psychologists will only be advisable

for the exclusive benefit of the client.

Article 111: Psychologists must serve their clients with efficiency, care and diligence

without being afraid of provoking retaliation from authorities or private sources.

However, the limit of this duty is set forth by the undeniable freedom of action and the

voice of conscience. It will be able in no case or circumstance be exonerated of an illicit

act without pretext of instructions of the client.

Article 112: It is prohibited to publicly exhibit films or photographs that do not follow

scientific purposes or contexts, mentally ill or behaviorally disabled individuals, be

children, adolescents or adults that are under transitory or permanent psychological

attention in public or private institutions.

Article 113: Psychologists are obliged to denounce before the Board of the Federation of

Psychologists of Venezuela or any of the Board of Psychologists, any proven or

suspected inappropriate treatment of patients in any inpatient center or educational

institution. These are considered inappropriate services, including any physical abuse,

unhealthy conditions, lack of psychological services, in conditions of nudity, starvation or

similar circumstances.

Article 114: The clients and their relatives have the right to file a request to the Board of

Psychologists when they are not satisfied with the results of treatment used by

psychologists.

Article 115: The Board of Psychologists may be assembled by an individual. It is the

responsibility of this professional to appoint colleagues able to assist in the solution of a

given problem but the clients or their relatives may also request the presence of one or

more psychologist of their choice.

Article 116: Psychologists are obliged to assist with the meeting of the Boards with

punctuality. If after a reasonable wait the other members do not show up, those

professionals present are authorized to examine and discuss the proposed situation.

Article 117: The Boards will avoid any speculative digression and will focus in the

objective discussion of solutions for the proposed problems.

Article 118: Deliberations of the Board will not be discussed before the client or others.

No diagnoses or interventions will be allowed if these are not the result of the

conclusions of the Board.

Article 119: The deliberations that take place within the headquarters of the Board are

secret and confidential in character. The responsibility is collective. It is prohibited to

psychologists to express any criticism or censorship aimed to alter the opinion of their

colleagues or the scientific legitimacy of the treatment approved by the Board.

Article 120: When it does not become possible to reconcile every opinion in the

headquarters of the Board, new consultations shall be requested, adding new members for

judgment and requesting the opinion of other colleagues. In case of overt divergences in

the analysis of the case, criteria of the majority will prevail.

Article 121: Any member of the Board has the right to demand a minute to register all

particular opinions at every meeting, and this will always be convenient to shield the

responsibility of the Board, or to protect its credibility before the client, his/her relatives

and the public in general.

Article 122: Psychologists will always take into account that the collective interests

should prevail over those of the client, and even though they owe him/her loyalty, never

should that be with social disruption or against common good.

Article 123: Psychologists will put in the case that has been entrusted to them, all

knowledge and licit means of their profession, striving to achieve the good of the client.

Never should there be a promise of a solution of a problem.

Article 124: Professional relations of psychologists with the client will always be

transparent and personalized as it is required by the science in order to fulfill its goals

with objectivity. Indirect information of an individual or his/her environment will never

be valid by itself and at most, it may be granted an informative value.

Psychologists who engage in psychological experiences and establish post-mortem

diagnoses for legal purposes without having any direct relation with the individual will be

punished with the most extreme sanction.

Article 125: Psychologists will be extremely cautious not to intervene in cases or

situations in which their own personal problems or economic position may interfere with

and hinder the scientific and objective nature of the professional activity. Therefore, they

will avoid the projection of any mood states resulting from their personal, familial or

labor problems over their professional performance. Psychologists should care for their

own mental health.

Article 126: Psychologists have the duty of providing the client with interventions

regarded as the safest and least expensive, being in terms of economy as well as in terms

of the secondary or collateral effects of the treatment.

Article 127: Any therapeutic intervention will be performed in a professional context.

Article 128: It is prohibited for professionals in psychology to manipulate their

relationship with the client for economic, political or social purposes.

Article 129: Psychologists should respect the clients for their political and religious

ideas, as well as their private life and economic conditions.

Article 130: The offering of services to a client or institution should be done in a simple

and honest manner, estimating the time, the cost and the probable solutions to the

problem under consideration in an objective way.

Article 131: As members of governmental institution or state psychologists should be

vigilant about the highest ethical principles of the profession.

CHAPTER VI

About the Ethical Duties in the Institutional Practice of Psychology Article 132: Psychologists that work in public or private institutions must observe the

social and labor laws.

Article 133: Psychologists who work in public or private institutions have the duty to

demand conditions of dignity to the profession. In case these cannot be obtained,

psychologists should denounce the case before the respective Board.

Article 134: It is the duty of psychologists representing the labor union, to strive for the

improvement of professional conditions of psychologists. In this sense, they will strive to

achieve the same rights as other labor unions and other organizations as considered

necessary.

Article 135: It is the duty of psychologists representing the labor union, and those with

managerial roles in any institution to strive for:

a) The diffusion and fulfillment of the Law of Practice of Psychology and the Code of

Professional Ethics of the Psychologist.

b) The establishment collective agreements on labor.

Article 136: For any agreement under discussion, psychologists will be guided by the

following principles:

a) Defense of social security.

b) Defense of position stability.

c) Definition of professional risks.

d) Permissions and facilities to attend to scientific and labor events.

e) The right to improve their development.

f) To respect and follow the principles of hierarchies and promotion.

Article 137: Every psychologist representing the union will defend their labor rights.

Article 138: Every psychologist performing as an executive will take care of the

improvement of conditions of psychologists under his/her management. In this sense,

they will study and implement the possibilities offered by the institution.

Article 139: Psychologists will be found guilty of a breach of professional ethics when

applying for a position utilizing any other means to obtain it.

.

Article 140: Psychologists will defend the practice of contests to obtain positions.

Article 141: Psychologists will commit a severe violation to professional ethics if,

knowingly, they accept a position that corresponds to a colleague by promotion of

hierarchy.

CHAPTER VII

About Professional Confidentiality Article 142: Professional confidentiality is inherent to the practice of psychologists and it

is mandatory for them to protect the interests of clients or people under their care.

Confidentiality may be explicitly requested by the client but, although being implicit, it

must be inviolable. This is a duty that continues as a whole even after psychologists stop

providing services to the client.

Article 143: The duty of keeping professional confidentiality is extended to:

a) Knowledge obtained by means of the profession.

b) Confidences made by other psychologists due to their profession.

c) Confidences derived from relations with colleagues or other professionals with whom

there is teamwork.

d) The matters that psychologists know due to common or work associated with other

employees or dependents from them.

Article 144: Psychologists should not participate in situations that may lead them to

break the professional confidentiality or utilize in their own personal benefit confidences

received in their professional practice, unless having previous and expressed consent

from the confident.

Article 145: There is no violation of professional confidentiality:

a) When psychologists are appointed by the competent authority to examine the psychic

state, the skills and abilities of a person.

b) When there is a case of minors and their parents or legal representatives, school, or

Tribunal that need a report aimed to the best solution of the situation of the minors.

c) When in their capacity as experts psychologists act on behalf of an insurance company

or others, when rendering reports to the correspondent area about persons who are

referred for an assessment or test.

d) When acting in any other circumstance anticipated by law.

e) When there is the possibility of judiciary mistakes.

f) When psychologists are unfairly accused judicially by their client, they may reveal the

confidence only within the limits permissible by their own defense.

g) In order to avoid the commission of an offense and to prevent moral or material

damages derived from its commitment.

h) When clients provide written consent for the results to be shared with the company at

which they work.

i) When keeping confidence may cause harm to the client’s family, institution, business

or the community.

j) When psychologists are appointed by a firm, school, Tribunal, or other institution to

perform an assessment and psychological report.

k) When competent authorities request a study about the conflictive situation and about

the individuals involved in matters of family, minors or married couples.

l) When it is regarding the well-being or defense of the client, who due to mental

disorders, or behavioral, psychological or emotional deficiencies, is incapable to

determine the gravity of his/her own condition and therefore, may endanger his/her life

and that of others.

m) When according to the psychologists’ judgment, the information gathered involves

high risks for the security of the state, armed conflict between nations, or for areas of

high national security.

All these considerations should follow the regulations mentioned in the current Ethics

Code.

Article 146: When involving litigation, psychologists should abstain from revealing the

nature of the disorder, conflict or situation, all of which may be privately revealed to the

experts appointed by the Tribunal.

Article 147: When it involves collective professional work, i.e., two or more

psychologists intervening in the same case, all of them share the same obligation to keep

confidentiality. Any infraction to this duty will carry a sanction only to the perpetrators,

and not the professional group or to the institutions in which they work.

CHAPTER VIII

About Professional Fees Article 148: Psychologists have to right to charge professional fees without affecting the

dignity of their profession.

Article 149: Psychologists should consider that the essential object of their profession is

incompatible with commercial purposes. Any monetary compensation, even if

unquestionably licit, may never constitute an exclusive factor for the professional actions.

Article 150: With the exception of fair fees, psychologists will not pursue further

monetary interest in the professional matters that have been confided to them.

Article 151: In order to determine the amount of fees, psychologists should consider the

following parameters:

a) The importance of services.

b) The novelty or difficulty of the problem presented

c) Experience and professional reputation.

d) The economic status of the client.

e) The possibility that a psychologist may be unable to serve other matters or may find

himself/herself in disagreement with other clients or third parties.

f) The responsibility for the psychologists derived from the issue.

g) Time required.

h) The degree of participation of psychologists in the assessment, presentation and

development of the problem.

Article 152: Even if the client interrupts the case before its conclusion, psychologists

have the right of charging fees. In cases of conflict, psychologists should demonstrate

before the Directive Board that they have effectively performed the study, although

partially; fees should he estimated in proportion to the labor realized.

Article 153: Psychologists will avoid any controversy relative to the fees with their

clients to the extent that this is compatible with their professional dignity and their right

to be reasonably compensated for their services. If controversy emerges, psychologists

may request the mediation of the Board of Directors. If the client agrees in the

mediation, psychologists will accept the verdict without questioning.

Article 154: It is explicitly forbidden the sharing of fees between the personnel of

psychology and the assistant personnel, because this is contrary to professional dignity.

Article 155: Any fees for professional payment should be individually and directly given

to the consulted psychologists unless there in an agreement of a common fund divided in

equal parts.

Article 156: It is explicitly forbidden to psychologists to stipulate payments lower than

the usual amounts unless what is stated in Article 151, line d), and in Article 32.

Article 157: If psychologists as an extreme measure may require the judiciary system to

charge professional fees, they must try not to affect the good name and dignity of the

union.

Article 158: The sorting of fees among psychologists is allowed in cases of association

for the provision of services, by sharing the due responsibilities.

CHAPTER IX

About the Duties of Psychologists with their Colleagues Article 159: Among psychologists, a fraternal spirit that enhances the profession must

exist, as well as mutual respect. They will carefully abstain of malicious expressions

against colleagues, including alluding to their personal, ideological, political or other type

of antecedents.

Article 160: Psychologists must be cordial with their colleagues and assist them in the

solution of temporary inconveniences, sickness, mourning, or reasons beyond their

control that may keep them from attending the professional task to which they have been

entrusted.

Article 161: Not even due to urges of clients may psychologists deviate from the dictates

of decency and honor due to the community and their own colleagues.

Article 162: A psychologist entrusted to take charge of a case would try to assure

himself/herself, before accepting, that no other colleague has been previously in charge of

the same case. If a colleague is substituted, the psychologist should make sure that such

professional has completely resigned from the case. However, if the case is an

emergency, he/she may provide professional services on condition that he/she promptly

informs all interested colleagues.

Article 163: Psychologists who for justifiable reasons takes provisional charge of the

professional matters from another colleague, is obliged to provide care and fulfill their

mission through norms that guarantee the good name of the substituted colleague. In any

case, the fees will belong to the psychologist who substitutes.

Article 164: If psychologists must substitute a colleague who has previously been in

charge of a case, the latter must offer their good services to enable their substitutes to

obtain fair and adequate remuneration. If they cannot achieve the satisfaction of the

colleague by the client the psychologists should refuse to provide their services.

Article 165: Psychologists, children and dependent parents have the option to free

services by their colleagues.

Article 166: In order to establish societies and associations among psychologists, the

contracts and conditions of work should be registered with the respective Board of

Psychologists.

Article 167: Psychologists who occupy directive, administrative or academic labor-

related positions, should maintain a respectful attitude towards their subordinate

colleagues and contributors.

Article 168: All subordinate psychologists, regardless of their function are obliged to

keep the due consideration towards those in higher hierarchical positions.

Article 169: When psychologists perform a study or an assessment and indicate an

intervention or programming that will be fulfilled by another professional without

obtaining previous authorization of the client for the use of the study, if the client would

refuse the psychologist to fulfill this ethical obligation, the latter should not take charge

of the case.

Article 170: Psychologists that receive clients referred by other colleagues should write

the colleagues a report about everything relative to the study of the case, including

recommendations, strategies and the outcomes.

Article 171: It is considered unfair competition:

a) To offer services through advertisements that do not meet the norms determined in

articles 36, 37, 38 y 39.

b) To charge fees below the standards.

c) To charge for services provided within the schedule stipulated by contract with an

institution or health service.

d) To use for the purposes of private practice, instruments, equipment, personnel or other

resources from the institution or service with which there has been a contract.

e) To obtain clients from public or private institutions to which the psychologist provides

services, in order to assist them with lucrative purposes for their own establishment,

except in cases of manifested request by the client of his/her relatives.

Article 172: When psychologists consider themselves affected in their dignity and good

name as a professional, they should report their corresponding labor organizations about

the situation, abstaining from doing so before organizations that are foreign to their own

union.

CHAPTER X

About the Duties before the Union Article 173: Unavoidable duties for the professional in psychology are:

a) To accept and execute promptly, enthusiastically, and effectively the tasks that have

been individually assigned, aside from plainly justifiable reasons.

b) To accept and execute promptly and effectively tasks that are assigned as members of

special taskforces of the respective Board, aside from plainly justifiable reasons.

c) To support the Board to which they belong with enough enthusiasm and use personal

efforts in order to reach the highest level of success in all organization goals.

d) To punctually pay all regulated quotas as members of the Board, besides those

corresponding to the Federation and the Social Security Office of Psychologists.

Likewise, to pay punctually those extraordinary quotas required by the Board or

Federation.

Article 174: No one should exercise activities from the profession of psychology without

previously registering with the respective board. Even when a psychologist does not

exercise any activity proper to the profession, and even when he/she is habitually

dedicated to activities foreign to the profession, he/she must fulfill what is required in the

previous article, and remains submitted without excuse to the legal and regulatory

regulations for the exercise of psychology, as well as to the norms of the current Code.

Article 175: Every professional in Psychology must maintain updated his/her home and

work address, as well as the corresponding telephone numbers. Every board must keep

an updated register for those purposes. Whoever violates this disposition will be

sanctioned by the Disciplinary Tribunal.

Article 176: All professionals in Psychology in their capacity as employers must demand

to psychologists applying to a position and to those under their supervision, the

registration in the corresponding board.

CHAPTER XI

About Sanctions and their Determining Causes Article 177: It is a cause of disciplinary procedures against the professional in

Psychology:

a) Practice the profession even though being suspended.

b) To act as an accomplice or covering persons who perpetrate acts against legal practice

of Psychology.

c) To perform magic or esoteric practices presenting them as psychology.

d) The lack of payment to legal and regulated contributions.

e) Severe faults against the executives of the organization, the managers of the board and

their members, and members of the disciplinary tribunals.

f) Violation of the directives presented in this Code.

g) Severe infractions to ethic, honor or the professional discipline.

h) To refuse cancellation of legal and regalement contributions after having being

warned.

i) Not to follow agreements and resolutions approved by the Assembly and other

professional organizations on defense of the professional practice.

j) Recurrent violations.

Article 178: Sanctions applicable to disciplinary tribunals as follows, in agreement to the

nature of the fault and its reiteration:

a) Private warning.

b) Public warning

c) Suspension of the professional practice.

Article 179: In any case, for the purposes of determining the respective sanction relative

to each cause, the Disciplinary Tribunal should follow law regulations about the practice

of Psychology.

CHAPTER XII

Final Regulations Article 180: The boards of psychologists are obliged to provide a copy of the current

Code to all their members, performing or not activities of the profession, encouraging

them the most faithful fulfillment to its regulations. The Federation of Psychologists of

Venezuela will watch over the fulfillment of the content of this Article and will assume

the due publicity and diffusion of this Code.

Article 181: The Federation and the boards of psychologists will facilitate the teaching of

professional deontology in the colleges of Psychology throughout the country.

Article 182: Upon being admitted to the respective board, psychologists should solemnly

pledge and oath the faithful fulfillment of the Code of Professional Ethics.

***

The current Federation of Venezuelan Psychologists

was approved at the II National Regular Assembly

of the Federation of Psychologists of Venezuela,

met at the city of Barquisimeto, Estado Lara,

on March the twenty eight, one thousand nine hundred eighty one.