Ethical Dilemmas of South African Clinical Psychologists: International Comparisons

This study asked a sample of 487 South African clinical psychologists to describe situations that they identified as ethically troubling. Forty-nine psychologists described 51 incidents that were categorized according to Pope and Vetter's (1992) system. Psychologists most often described dilemmas involving confidentiality, followed by dual relationship dilemmas. These ethical concerns are presented and discussed in the light of current South African ethical codes and relevant professional literature. The results are compared with six similar international studies. Results suggest that the concerns voiced by South African psychologists resemble those raised by their international colleagues. Similarities with findings from the United States and Finland may be the most marked. These results are discussed in the light of current professional trends. Implications for the development of specific ethical guidelines and professional education are also discussed.