AASP Newsletter - January 2019

Jason Scott Hamilton, Ph.D., Miami, FL

Complaint: Jason Hamilton forged an AASP membership document to indicate he was a current "licensed professional member" of the organization, improperly affixing the electronic signature of an AASP Past President from earlier this decade to the certificate and subsequently sharing this document with potential clients as a way to verify his professional credentials.
 
Findings: AASP's Ethics Committee determined that Dr. Hamilton's behavior clearly violated several aspects of AASP's Ethics Code including:

• Principle C: Professional and Scientific Responsibility
• Principle E: Concern for Other's Welfare
• Standard 8: Misuse of AASP Member's Work
• Standard 16: Definition of Public Statements

Sanctions: Dr. Hamilton was issued a "Cease and Desist" order to use the forged document to professionally represent himself any longer. In addition, Dr. Hamilton's AASP membership was revoked for a period of 2 years after which he can reapply if evidence of a professional commitment to significantly improve ethical awareness and professional behavior is provided (e.g., completing an ethics course; a period of counseling/psychotherapy linked to remediation; close professional mentorship/supervision of his applied sport psychology work; and provision of an in-depth document discussing professional growth relative to these issues).