Ethical problem-solving framework
Introduction
The paper carries out a critical review of case study three regarding John, a 38-year-old who was involved in drug abuse. In this case study, John is engaged in an interaction with a community social worker, where he reveals his intentions of committing suicide. Therefore regarding this, the article will develop a dilemma surrounding this case scenario. This will be done under the consideration of the dual and multiple roles of a health worker. Besides mandatory reporting necessities and client confidentiality requirements will also be applied when developing the dilemma. The available legal and ethical guidelines and principles present in the case study are also discussed. This is done as per the AASW and Kitchener ethical principles.
An ethical problem-solving framework is developed to solve the ethical dilemma present in the case study. The problem-solving framework is used as the appropriate course of action in this case scenario. The potential outcome due to the application of the most suitable ethical problem-solving framework is also explained. Lastly, a conclusion is drawn summarizing the key points of this article.
Produce a brief description of the dilemma
While working as a professional community social worker interacting with an individual by the name john creates a dilemma. Considering John has been a drug addict who has been abusing heroin having gone to a rehabilitation center, John has relapsed to the drug abuse behavior. The eventuality is posing a significant challenge to John as he discloses that his life is worthless, and he does not find it worth living. Besides, John states that no one will miss him once he is gone as he refers to himself as a junk. Having disclosed that he intends to commit suicide, the disclosure creates an ethical dilemma.
The dilemma created by the disclosure is whether to report John to the relevant authority of his plans of committing suicide or look for measures of advising. The dilemma is created, considering it is illegal and unethical to commit suicide. On the other hand, advising John not to commit suicide could be not unethical, but unlawful practice as a community service professional. The situation creates a dilemma considering the multiple roles tasked to the community service professional as while working with John, there is a need to practice canceling services acting as a psychologist as well act as professional in the community service. Besides considering the close relationship with John, there is the difficulty of reporting his plans for him to face the appropriate legal consequences associated with suicide. Besides the failure to report John, which is described as unethical but not illegal, is contributed by John’s right to confidentiality. As a community service professional, it may be wrong to report John considering John has the right to privacy, and it might be unethical to deny him confidentiality. The dilemma is also created due to the consideration of reporting requirements tasked with community service professionals. Failure to report John will be against the reporting requirements tasked to the community service professional; hence this contributes to the identified dilemma.
Available ethical and legal principles and guidelines 500
In the case of John, there are various legal and ethical principles and guides present in the identified dilemma. Some of the ethical, legal principles and guidelines in this scenario are as per Kitchener’s ethical principle. According to …………. The principle of anatomy which addresses the respect for self-determination and independence. Applying this principle in the scenario, John had the right to individual freedom of choice and action. However, the principle provides two courses of action, which involve the client’s freedom to make their own decision and the responsibility of the psychologist to determine the client’s ability to makes the right decision. Considering John was under the influence of drugs and hay be undergoing depression having backslid to the abuse of drugs, the community service professional was tasked with the work of advising John of the right course of action. The reason behind this is John was in the capacity to make rightful decisions.
………..cited that, under the legal principle of beneficence, a psychologist is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring client welfare. It means that to prevent harm or to do well. Applying this principle in John’s scenario, the community service professional has the responsibility of ensuring John’s wellbeing. This was evident as John had been offered shelter in the homeless shelter for one month. Also, the action of the community service worker to provide a listening year to John is another instance where he practiced the legal principle of beneficence.
According to ……………. The legal principle of fidelity requires that the client has the obligation of honoring commitments, maintaining faithfulness, and loyalty. In this principle, the canceller is also expected to act in a manner that does not live obligation unattended or threaten a therapeutic relationship. Applying the principle of fidelity, John was always open to the community service worker in this setting. He maintained obligations by revealing to the service weaker of the different challenges he experienced at that moment. Besides, the community service worker acted in a manner that accommodated the client’s needs by offering him shelter and attending to his needs. This gives the application of the principle of fidelity in John’s case scenario.
Under the AASW code of ethics, community social worker is required to observe the general ethical responsibilities while performing their duties. They are supposed to show respect for human dignity by promoting and preserving their dignity and individuality. In this case, the community health worker is deemed to respect John’s individuality and dignity by protecting client privacy.
……………..cited that community social workers under the AASW code of ethics are supposed to show commitment to the execution of competence. Community social workers are supposed to express explicit and appropriate professional boundaries in the eventuality where there exist dual or multiple relationships with current or former clients. This is done to prevent a conflict of interest, harm, or exploitation. In the case scenario, the community service worker should express explicit and appropriate professional boundaries since there existed multiple relationships with the client john.
The appropriate ethical course of action500
Potential outcome.400
Conclusion 150