IN Psych Juris flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Scope of practice

The range of services a registered practitioner is legally and ethically competent and authorised to render, as defined by the Health Professions Act and the rules of the Professional Board for Psychology.

Unprofessional conduct

Behaviour by a registered practitioner that breaches the Act, the rules or the ethical code, including confidentiality breaches, dual relationships, dishonesty, practising while impaired, and failure to cooperate with an investigation.

Professional conduct inquiry

A quasi-judicial disciplinary hearing convened by the board or its committee at which evidence is led, the practitioner may be legally represented, and findings and sanctions are determined.

Balance of probabilities

The civil standard of proof applied in HPCSA disciplinary hearings: the committee must be satisfied that the alleged conduct is more likely than not to have occurred.

Dual relationship

Any secondary relationship with a patient, student or supervisee, such as financial, social, familial or sexual, that risks impairing professional judgement or exploiting the professional relationship.

Pro forma complainant

The HPCSA official who screens incoming complaints, gathers preliminary information and decides whether a matter should be referred to the professional board for investigation or inquiry.

Removal from register

The most serious disciplinary sanction, stripping the practitioner of registration so that further practice under the protected title becomes an offence until restoration is granted.

Duty to report impairment

The obligation of a practitioner whose judgement or performance is compromised by illness, substance dependence or other impairment to refrain from practice and to inform the council.

Health Professions Act 56 of 1974

The South African statute that creates the HPCSA, establishes professional boards, regulates registration and titles, and empowers the making of rules on conduct and practice.

HPCSA

The Health Professions Council of South Africa, the statutory body that registers health practitioners, sets standards and disciplines those who breach the rules.

Professional Board for Psychology

The board established under the Act that governs psychologists and related categories, recommending registration requirements, scopes of practice and conduct rules to the council.

Protected title

A professional designation such as clinical psychologist that may lawfully be used only by a person registered in that category; unregistered use is a statutory offence.

Health committee

A committee that deals with practitioners whose fitness to practise is impaired by illness or dependence, aiming at public protection and rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Registrar

The chief executive officer of the HPCSA who receives complaints, maintains the register, issues certificates and gives effect to council and board decisions.

Annual registration fee

The prescribed yearly payment that keeps a practitioner's name on the register; non-payment can result in suspension and loss of the right to practise or claim.

Statutory objective

The protective purpose of the Act, namely safeguarding the public and maintaining professional standards, which guides interpretation of every rule and decision.

Informed consent

Voluntary agreement by a competent patient after receiving adequate information about the nature, benefits, risks, alternatives and consequences of the proposed intervention.

Confidentiality

The duty not to disclose information obtained in a professional relationship, subject to lawful exceptions such as patient consent, statutory reporting, court orders and serious risk to others.

Record retention

The obligation to keep adequate clinical records for each contact and to retain them for the period prescribed by HPCSA rules and applicable legislation before lawful destruction.

Sexual boundary rule

Sexual relationships with current patients are prohibited absolutely; relationships with former patients are restricted and permitted only where transference and exploitation are clearly absent.

Continuing competence

The duty to practise only within the limits of one's training and experience, to maintain skills, and to refer or seek supervision when a case exceeds those limits.

Fee disclosure

The requirement to inform the patient of charges in advance where practicable, to charge fees reasonable for the service, and to avoid fee-splitting that compromises clinical independence.

Expert witness duty

The obligation to give objective, evidence-based opinion within demonstrated competence, separating fact from inference and disclosing the limits and basis of the assessment.

Patient rights

Constitutional and statutory entitlements including privacy, dignity, access to information, participation in decisions and the right to complain without obstruction.

Advertising rule

Public statements about services must be factual and not misleading, must avoid self-laudatory comparison and testimonials, and must not create unrealistic expectations of outcome.

Test data security

The obligation to protect psychological test materials and protocols from disclosure that would invalidate the instrument, while respecting the patient's right of access to their own results.

Registration category

The specific entry on the register, such as clinical psychologist or psychometrist, that determines the lawful scope and supervision requirements applicable to the practitioner.

Supervised practice

A period of practice by an intern or candidate under a board-approved supervisor, with documented hours and reporting before independent registration is granted.

CPD cycle

The defined multi-year period over which a practitioner must accumulate the required continuing professional development points, including a mandatory ethics component.

CPD portfolio

The record of accredited activities, attendance evidence and reflective notes that a practitioner must keep and produce on request during a CPD audit.

Restoration to register

The process of returning to practice after removal or suspension, requiring application, payment of outstanding fees and penalties, and evidence of current competence.

Fitness to practise declaration

The statement made on annual renewal that the practitioner is not impaired and is fit to render professional services within the registered scope.

Notification of change

The duty to inform the council within the prescribed period of changes to personal details, practice address, registration category or scope of practice.