Ethical Issues

Abstract

The purpose of the essay is to explore different topics that help shape the social work field. We will explore five topics which are first phase of treatment, legal and ethical issues, practice theories and intervention, human diversity, and DSM IV IR review.  With knowing and understanding these following topics, it will give a sense of procedures that social workers must familiar and or aware of.  This paper will focus on legal and ethical issues and what the social worker should be aware of when assisting a client.

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Ethical decision making will also inquire you to consider laws governing social work practice,  some laws and regulations that apply to all social worker.  One example is the laws that govern what kind of activities social workers are allowed to engage in. Values can sometimes affect ethical decision making.  Ethical principle and standards for a profession are meant to serve as a guide to chat is right or wrong.  They relate to a philosophy of how social workers are suppose to behave. Values that social workers consider desirable are incorporated in the code of ethics.  Examples include a commitment to the primary importance of the individual in society and respect of confidentiality in the client social worker relationship.  If a situation is morally uncomfortable for you, but is constant with the code of ethics and the law, you must put aside your discomfort and follow the ethics code and as relevant the law. 

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Confidentiality is narrowed and scoped and refers to your obligation as a social worker not to disclosed any information about a client that you obtain during your professional relationship without the clients permission.  The code of ethics make it clear that you cannot discuss information about your clients case with other people without the client’s consent unless there are compelling professional reasons for breaking the clients confidentiality. You also have to treat as confidential the fact of your clinical relationship with a client there for if you are asked by someone not directly involved in a client’s case whether or not you are treating the client you should usually answer this question by saying “That you do not disclose your clients identities.”  Even the fact you are not treating someone should be kept confidential.

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Next when speaking to a consultant about a client’s case, you cannot disclose any information about the client unless you have obtained the clients consent or there is a compelling need to disclose certain information without his consent. The ideal of a compelling need to share information without a client consent can arise when the client is a serious a ranger to himself or others, under these conditions you can reveal identify information to a consultant without the clients permission if you have determine that doing so is necessary to protect the client or others than the danger he poses.  If you talk about a client’s case during a lecture or other public presentation, you cannot involve in formation in your presentation that would allow your audience to identify the client unless you obtain the clients permission in advance.

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If you receive subpoena requesting confidential information about a client you should protect the client confidentiality to the greatest degree by law.  When you receive a subpoena for a clients record for example you should initially assert a privileged on a client behalf it is also a good idea to seek legal advice, then you should contact the client or attorney to determine if the client want his record released.  If the client wants you to comply, you should get written permission from the client.  If the client does not want you to comply, then you should continue to the privileged.  If the court later wants you to release records then you must release them at that point otherwise you risk a court situation, you should however release information only relevant to the court case.   

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Dual or multiple relationships occurs when you associate with a client in more than one type of relationship.  Some example includes providing therapy services to a employee, a friend, a relative, or a relatives other friend.  Going into business with a client or hiring a former client for a position in your office.  As a social worker you obligation is to avoid engaging in any dual or multiple relationship with a client or a form client which there is a risk that client maybe exploited or harmed.

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When parents of a minor client ask you for information about his treatment you need to balance three considerations.  First from a legal prospective the parents of a minor client have the right receive information from you about their child’s therapy.  Second, from an ethical standpoint, a minor client has the right to a confidential relationship with you. Third from a clinical prospective, you should consider whether and how the minor clients’ interest would be serve if his parents received the information.  Last social workers sometimes form a professional partnership by combining their practices.  In the case it is important to understand whether or not, one partner can be held liable for the unethical, unprofessional, or illegal conduct of the other partner.