Ethical implications of psychologist involvement in assessments related to the death penalty cases

What are some ethical implications of psychologist involvement in assessments related to the death penalty cases

Human Rights and Psychologists’ Involvement in Assessments Related to Death Penalty Cases

In 2010, following intense controversy over the involvement of psychologists in military interrogations at U.S. detention centers such as Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, the American Psychological Association (APA) amended its Ethics Code Standard 1.02, Conflicts Between Ethics and Law, Regulations or Other Governing Legal Authority.

The amended language made clear that psychologists were prohibited from engaging in activities, however lawful, that would “justify or defend violating human rights.”

The broad language of this modified standard raises new questions for ethical analysis of psychologists’ participation in another kind of controversial legal proceeding; death penalty cases.