The social workers ethical dilemma derives from
1. The pressure to choose among various interests when all cannot be currently and consistently accommodate and
2. The pressure to accommodate the social workers own personal needs preferences and obligations with regards to the latter, levy states that preventing personal interest from intruding on the primary duty to clients and others requires vigor and concentration
THINK OF THE DIVERSE SETTINGS THAT THIS CASE REPRESENTS:
1. A social worker referred herself for review based on her action to tell a close neighbor of witnessing the neighbor’s husband. (A new client of a colleague) acting erratically in the agency……… a sort of forewarning for neighbor or friend.
2. A complaint was filed against a clinical social worker regarding a sexual relationship during therapy and failure to terminate the professional relationship and to refer the client.
3. The client of a colleague of the respondent filed a complaint alleging that the respondent publicly recognized her at a gathering an identified her as a client thus breaching her confidentiality.
4. A complaint was brought because a social worker wrote a letter to the editor of a local newspaper supporting legislation limiting the rights of gays which is not in keeping with the code of ethics even though the writer did not identify himself as a social worker.
5. A client who is a quadriplegic complains that a social worker has been discriminatory and is lacking in composition: also states that social worker is billing Medicaid under a psychiatrist’s name and that he misrepresented himself as a psychologist.
6. A client, also a professional, complains that the social worker has disclosed her client’s status in her new work setting, including providing copies of case file information to a supervisor.
ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SOCIAL WORK
In social work, ethical conduct is an essential but complex-practice. Social workers must often act quickly and effectively in the face of difficult moral dilemmas, especially when the results can have a profound impact on the cause of their client’s lives. It is therefore imperative for social workers to both familiarize themselves with the predicaments they may face in the field, as well as their profession standards of best practice.
DEFINING ETHICAL DILEMMAS
In the context of social work, an ethical dilemma is a situation in which two or more professionally identified values are in conflict. The National Association of Social Worker (NASW) code of ethics outlines these values including service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person. Importance of human relationships, integrity and competence.
COMMON ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SOCIAL WORK
1. Receiving gifts: clients who receive assistance sometimes wish to reciprocate. Although giving a gift can be a kind gesture, it can also prove problematic, if a social worker receives a gift particularly when it is expensive, it may constitute a breach of integrity. However, rejecting a gift may hurt the client’s feelings potentially damaging the relationship. If the gift is the hand made or inexpensive, it is generally considered appropriate to accept.
2. Right to self-determination: although the job social workers is to help people make informed decision, they are ultimately not responsible for the actions of their clients. When clients choose to act against their own best interest (such as formal drug addict deciding to visit their old dealer), it can be tempting for social worker to provide their client with tough love. But except in extenuating circumstances, social workers must ultimately respect their client’s autonomy.
3. Confidentiality involving minors: although information shared between social workers and their clients is strictly confidential, certain situations may arise that require the social worker to disclose client’s information to the third party. Sometimes, these situations include; minors who may or may not be entitled to certain rights of confidentiality, depending on Federal, State and Agency laws acting in these situations may prove both difficult and painful because they cannot feel to both parties like a major breach of trust.
4. Consult with others: as professionals, social workers commonly make use of each other’s opinions and experiences asking for feed back from peers, mentors and the NASW allows social workers to remain accountable to both each other and their clients.
To End Hunger in Nigeria as Social Worker Volunteers
1. Talk to poverty survivors throughout Nigeria. Find out, from them. What they need to improve their lives. Find ways to achieve those goals. Find ways to empower to pursue these goals.
2. Talk to human rights activists throughout Nigeria. Find out, from them what their need to protect the human right of poverty survivors. Find ways to achieve these goals. Find ways to empower them to pursue those goals on their own.
3. Talk to teachers working in schools that serve poverty survivors throughout Nigeria. Find out from them what their need to improve the educational system available to poverty survivors. Find ways to empower them to pursue those goals on their own.
Talk to medical professionals and activists and poverty survivors striking areas throughout Nigeria. Find out, from them what they need to improve the medical system in Nigeria. Find ways to achieve those goals. Find ways to empower them to pursue these goals on their own.