Final answer:
Clinical psychology is guided by principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice to ensure ethical treatment of patients and research participants. These principles require informed consent, respect for patients' rights, and honest practice overseen by relevant review boards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Clinical psychology is guided by ethical principles to ensure the welfare of patients and research participants. These principles include autonomy, allowing individuals the right to make informed decisions about their involvement; beneficence, promoting the well-being of individuals; nonmaleficence, doing no harm to patients; and justice, ensuring equitable treatment and care for all individuals. In clinical practices and research, these principles foster ethical conduct, respect for individuals, and equitable care and treatment.
To uphold these principles, it is crucial for procedures to gain approval by institutional review boards, and, where applicable, by institutional animal care and use committees. Accurate record-keeping, honest communication, and maintaining confidentiality are additionally vital to adhere to the ethical standards in clinical psychology. Furthermore, all practices must respect patients' rights and require informed consent, which is not just the agreement to treatment or participation in the study but also a comprehensive understanding of the associated purposes and risks.