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Ethical Case Analysis Paper I heard about this woman from a friend who works for Social Services in Erie County. She is a 28 year old white woman. She is a drug addict and has never received rehabilitation. She does not have a Job. She lives in rental unit paid for by public assistance. He told me that she has lived in poverty since childhood, was raised by a single mom who was alcoholic. She has no knowledge of her dad. Extra information about family: Two children – 14 yr. Old girl (with one child, 1 yr. Old, lives with them), 9 yr. Old boy Both of mixed race – white and African American Client does not have contact with either of her children’s fathers (two different men). The dilemma is that the client steals from stores for money for drugs and her children informed the social worker. NASA Code of Ethics Code 1: identifies core values on which social works mission is based. Stealing is putting the client in dangerous situations and she could end up being arrested and she wouldn’t receive the rehabilitation that she needs. She could be hurt if store owner caught her and defended the store.
Code 2: summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect the profession’s core values ND establishes a set of specific ethical standards that should be used to guide social work practice. I would report her to the Judge. Personal ethics and values pertaining to case Personal ethics and values: Stealing is wrong. Addiction is dangerous and unhealthy. Everyone should get the help they need instead of being incarcerated. Everyone should be given a second chance. How personal ethics and values could potentially impact your decision: I might decide to give her a second chance and not report her to the Judge if she says she won’t steal anymore.
The thought of children being sent to foster care or separated is heartbreaking Lundeberg and Dollop’s ethical decision making tree Ethical Principle 1: Protection of Life. Make professional decisions that guarantee the basic survival needs of individuals and/or of society. The protection of human life takes precedence over every other obligation. The meaner for protecting human life might include health services, food, shelter, income, etc. Clients’ life is threatened from stealing because she could be hurt by someone defending their property. Client could be shot.
Children would need a place to stay if client was turned in to Judge. Ethical Principle 2: Principle of equality and inequality. Make practice decisions that foster person’s autonomy, independence and freedom. Freedom though highly important does not override the right to life or survival of the person himself or of anyone else. A person does not have the right to decide to harm himself or herself or anyone else on the grounds that the right to make such a decision is her or his autonomous right. The social worker would be obligated to intervene.
Client could be put in Jail for stealing instead of rehabilitation if she has a past history of being arrested. Ethical Principle 3: Principle of autonomy and freedom. Make practice decisions that foster equality of opportunity and equality of access for all people. Get client into rehab so she can get clean and then enroll in Job training so she can get skills necessary to improve life and get a Job. Ethical Principle 4: Principle of least harm. Make practice decisions that promote a better quality of life for all people. If she is in rehab, people won’t get hurt, and won’t lose their property.
Client’s children could be affected negatively if client is caught and put in Jail. It is better for the client to be put in rehab. Ethical Principle 5: Principle of quality of life. Make practice decisions that strengthen every person’s right to privacy. Keeping confidential information inviolate is a direct derivative of this obligation. Telling the Judge that she needs rehab which would leave time for planning for placement of children. Ethical Principle 6: Principle of privacy and confidentiality. Make practice decisions that permit the social worker to speak the truth and to fully close all relevant information.
It’s in the client’s best interest to inform the Judge what the children said about their mom stealing. Explain to client that you are not Judging her, you Just want her to have a better life and she needs to get clean and get Job training Ethical Principle 7: Principle of truthfulness and full disclosure. Make practice decisions that are in accord with the rules and regulations that have been voluntarily accepted. Even if she doesn’t give permission for full disclosure, she is putting herself in danger while stealing, so I would have to report it.
In applying this we need to ask three questions: Universality Rule #1 If I were in a similar situation, would I want my therapist to make this decision? Yes, if I were stealing to support a drug habit, I would want my therapist to report me for my own good. Not only am I putting my life in danger while stealing but the life of the person or person’s I am stealing from. Universality Rule #2 If my family were in a similar situation, would I want their therapist to make this decision? Yes, I would want my therapist to make this decision for a family member, it would be n their best interest.
Universality Rule #3 If other people were in a similar situation, would I want their Yes, I would want their therapist to make this decision because of the effects on society as well as the other person Ethical decision Strengths of decision: Client would get rehab and Job training and a Job. Wicked make family proud and she would have a closer relationship with them. Wicked put her children in a safer environment and would get a healthy mom back. Weaknesses of decision: Client could possibly go to Jail and she wouldn’t get the help she n s. Children eight have to go to foster home.
Expected outcome is that the client gets rehabilitation, learns values and ethics about stealing, and learns skills to cope with drug addiction. She could also learn skills to get and keep a Job, and become closer with her family. What did you learn from this assignment? There are many ethical dilemmas to consider if one is going to do the “right” thing. References Workers, N. A. (2008). NASA Code of Ethics (Guide to the Everyday Professional Conduct of Social Workers). Washington, DC: NASA. Http://www. Schoolwork’s. Org/ pubs/code/code. Asp