Other ethical dilemmas pertain to agency administration, community work, social policy, and research. Typical examples involve disclosing confidential information without a client’s consent (for example, when a client threatens to harm himself, herself, or someone else) limiting a client’s right to self-determination against his or her wishes (for example, when a social worker pursues involuntary psychiatric hospitalization of a troubled client) or social contact with a former client. Many involve social workers’ delivery of services to individuals, families, couples, and small groups. Today’s social workers and social work students are being introduced to state-of-the-art frameworks to help them identify ethical dilemmas and make difficult decisions.Įthical dilemmas come in all shapes and sizes. Although many practitioners completed their formal education at a time when content on ethical dilemmas and ethical decision making was not a prominent component in the social work education curriculum, continuing education on the subject is now common. In recent years, social workers have refined their approach to ethical decision making. The social worker was also concerned about managing the boundaries in her relationship with the family she wanted to avoid entering into an inappropriate “dual relationship.” The social worker was deeply ambivalent and unsure about how to resolve this ethical dilemma-a situation in which professional values, duties, and obligations clash. She was especially concerned about violating Alice’s privacy and confidentiality. At the same time, however, the social worker quickly recognized the ethical dilemma facing her. She felt close to the family and wanted to be supportive. The social worker was touched by the parents’ sentiments and their poignant request. They explained that the social worker was an important person in their family’s life and that it would mean a lot to them if the social worker would deliver a eulogy at their daughter’s funeral. Toward the end of the conversation, Alice’s parents told the social worker that they wanted to ask a special favor. The parents also talked about how difficult it would be for them to bury their daughter the following day. Alice’s parents spoke at length about how much they appreciated the social worker’s earnest efforts to help their daughter. The social worker met with her parents, with whom she had considerable rapport, and they talked about Alice’s lifelong triumphs and challenges. Immediately following the suicide, Alice’s parents-who had participated in her treatment at various times in the context of family counseling-contacted the social worker to discuss this tragic turn of events. According to the social worker, Alice struggled for many years with depression and cocaine addiction. Two days earlier, one of her clients, Alice M., committed suicide. The social worker is employed by a community mental health center where she provides clinical services to people with chronic mental illness. Recently, I received a phone call from a seasoned social worker seeking consultation.
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