Ethics in the practice of psychiatry: update on the results of enforcement of the code

Abstract

From 1950 to 1973, 82 charges of unethical conduct were made against APA members; of the 12 (15%) members who were found unethical, six were expelled. From 1972 to 1983, 382 members were charged; 86 (23%) were found unethical and 27 of them were expelled. The charges most often involved patient exploitation and illegal conduct. The proportion of the membership charged in each APA area varied by as much as 3:1; some district branches had many charges (69 was the most), and many had none. With all the limitations, the system of enforcement is valuable, but there is much room for improvement.