Professional misconduct charges against a group of South African psychologists: an investigation of experiences, coping and meaning making

Abstract

This study examined the experience, coping, and meaning making of a group of South African psychologists who received a professional misconduct complaint. Ten psychologists who experienced a malpractice complaint during their careers were recruited into the study. The study used a qualitative research approach and a phenomenological design to explore and understand the research problem. Data was collected through semistructured, in-depth interviews that were audio-recorded and manually transcribed. The data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The results indicated that the psychologists experienced the effects of a complaint on an intensely personal level. They experienced emotional, physical, and practical consequences in the wake of a complaint; some of which endured long after the complaint was concluded. They furthermore experienced a challenge to their identity and their self-confidence. The experience of a complaint highlighted the problematic nature of working in the modern health care arena, in that the psychologists recognised that their clients could become complainants and that ethical deliberation is complex and ambiguous. The results of this study furthermore revealed that this group of psychologists experienced challenges in the procedures and complaint processes at the regulator as well as being uncertain about their relationship with the regulator when managing a malpractice complaint. The psychologists in this study coped with a complaint by implementing personal and professional coping strategies. On a personal level they sought out support structures; developed other interests and roles; drew on existing personal strengths and attributes; and reappraised the complaint through faith and humour. To cope professionally, the participants did research and undertook studies; purposefully shared their experiences; responded to the complaint and continued to work; and accepted the inherent risks of psychological practice. The results showed that the participants in this study derived meaning from the adverse professional event. They experienced personal growth; made meaningful changes to practical aspects of their work; and indicated that the meaning of the complaint contributed to their meaning in life. Recommendations are made concerning support for practitioners experiencing a malpractice complaint, pro-active coping with psychological practice in a modern health care arena, and on making meaning from adverse events during a professional career. A review of the relationship with the regulator during a malpractice complaint is proposed.