Maria_Swayne_Ethical Dilemmas

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Ethical Dilemmas Maria Swayne Fordham Graduate School of Social Service SWGS 6305: Social Work Skills Lab Professor Miller January 24, 2022

1. You suddenly recognize Fred’s name. He is an acquaintance of yours. You have mutual friends and you often see him at social get-togethers. How should you handle this? In this scenario, the issue is whether I will be able to keep Fred and I’s relationship professional or not. Due to previous encounters at social get-togethers, it may interfere with our professional relationship as a client and social worker. The parties involved are Fred, the client and me, the social worker. Fred would be impacted by perhaps not being able to see me as a social worker. He may fear that I will not be able to keep his information private and confidential. I would be impacted by having previous judgment on Fred and therefore, not being able to provide Fred with the best possible help and support. The NASW ethical standards that is relevant to the dilemma is 1.06a Conflicts of Interest, which states, “Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment. Social workers should inform clients when a real or potential conflict of interest arises and take reasonable steps to resolve the issue in a manner that makes the clients' interests primary and protects clients' interests to the greatest extent possible. In some cases, protecting clients' interests may require termination of the professional relationship with proper referral of the client” (NASW, 2022). My previous encounters with Fred may interfere with my future judgments on him. Another ethical standard that is relevant to this dilemma is 1.07a Privacy and Confidentiality which states, “Social workers should respect clients' right to privacy. Social workers should not solicit private information from or about clients except for compelling professional reasons. Once private information is shared, standards of confidentiality apply” (NASW, 2022). Having mutual friends with Fred may make him think I am unable to keep his information private and confidential. He

may worry I will disclose his information to his friends and therefore, will not be able to work successfully in the group. I would integrate the previously identified standards to resolve the dilemma by taking into consideration that I could be making impartial judgments when it comes to Fred. Also, I would take into consideration Fred’s possible discomfort in worrying about keeping his information private and confidential. One of the expectations in a group is to talk about your fears and emotions in order to succeed in the group. However, if Fred is worried about being judged and feeling like he is unable to open up, then this may delay his success in the group. As a result, I would deny working with Fred because there is a conflict of interest and refer him to another group where the social worker has no connection to Fred and will serve him as better help and support. 2. Prior to working at Horizons, you worked at the local child protection agency. You recognize Mary’s name because she was investigated for child neglect. How do you handle this situation? In this scenario, the issue is whether I will be biased with Mary due to previous knowledge on her history. The parties involved are Mary, the client and me, the social worker. Mary would be impacted by the dilemma by not receiving fair judgement from my part. Since I happen to know something about her past, this may result in her not getting a fresh new start somewhere. I would be impacted by this dilemma by having previous knowledge on Mary’s life and not being able to provide her with the best possible help and support. The NASW ethical standards that is relevant to the dilemma is 1.06a Conflicts of Interest, which states, “Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment. Social workers should inform

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clients when a real or potential conflict of interest arises and take reasonable steps to resolve the issue in a manner that makes the clients' interests primary and protects clients' interests to the greatest extent possible. In some cases, protecting clients' interests may require termination of the professional relationship with proper referral of the client” (NASW, 2022). My previous knowledge on Mary could cause impartial judgment on her behalf. Another ethical standard that is relevant to this dilemma is 1.01 Commitment to Clients which states, “Social workers' primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients. In general, clients' interests are primary. However, social workers' responsibility to the larger society or specific legal obligations may on limited occasions supersede the loyalty owed clients, and clients should be so advised. (Examples include when a social worker is required by law to report that a client has abused a child or has threatened to harm self or others.)” (NASW, 2022). Although Mary may have been investigated for child neglect in the past, she is not right now. However, if she were to disclose in future sessions about being involved in child neglect again, then I would be required to report this according to the ethical standard 1.01. I would integrate the previously identified standards to resolve the dilemma by taking into consideration that Mary’s past is not her present. I no longer am investigating her for child neglect. This is a group dealing with community violence and she is a victim here. However, if she discloses about being involved in child neglect through group sessions then I will be required to report her. I would not deny working with her because our relationship has always been professional, unlike Fred and I’s relationship. However, if I feel like this is a trigger for me and cannot seem to separate her from her past on child neglect, then I would refer to another group. After all, all clients deserve the best possible service.

3. During her intake, Ms. Smith is told that you will be leading the group. Without a scheduled appointment, she comes to the agency before the group to introduce herself to you. She finds you in the hallway and insists on giving you an expensive watch as a gift. How do you handle this situation? In this scenario, the issue is whether to receive Ms. Smith’s gift or not. The parties involved are Ms. Smith, the client and me, the social worker. The parties involved would be impacted by this dilemma by Ms. Smith perhaps misinterpreting the acceptance of this gift. I could cause her confusion with accepting this gift because she could see it as a form of payment for my service or perhaps even confusing our professional relationship into something romantic. I would be impacted by this dilemma by risking my client to view me as ungrateful for denying this gift or causing my client to misinterpret me by accepting this gift. The NASW ethical standards that is relevant to the dilemma is 1.13b Payment for Services which states, “Social workers should avoid accepting goods or services from clients as payment for professional services. Bartering arrangements, particularly involving services, create the potential for conflicts of interest, exploitation, and inappropriate boundaries in social workers' relationships with clients. Social workers should explore and may participate in bartering only in very limited circumstances when it can be demonstrated that such arrangements are an accepted practice among professionals in the local community, considered to be essential for the provision of services, negotiated without coercion, and entered into at the client's initiative and with the client's informed consent. Social workers who accept goods or services from clients as payment for professional services assume the full burden of demonstrating that this arrangement will not be detrimental to the client or the professional relationship” (NASW, 2022). Accepting this gift from Ms. Smith would be violating ethical standard 1.13b. Another

ethical standard relevant to this dilemma is 1.06c Conflicts of Interest which states, “Social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. In instances when dual or multiple relationships are unavoidable, social workers should take steps to protect clients and are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries. (Dual or multiple relationships occur when social workers relate to clients in more than one relationship, whether professional, social, or business. Dual or multiple relationships can occur simultaneously or consecutively.)” (NASW, 2022). I do not know Ms. Smith’s true intentions behind this gift. Ms. Smith could confuse this form of gift as something more than a professional relationship. Therefore, accepting this gift from Ms. Smith could be leading her on to think our professional relationship could be something romantic. And this would be violating ethical standard 1.06c. I would integrate the previously identified standards to resolve the dilemma by taking into consideration the confusion it would cause Ms. Smith. She could either view me accepting this gift as a form of accepting a payment for service or as a form of acceptance to a romantic relationship. In order to not cause this confusion, I would deny her gift respectfully and explain to her it is unethical for me to receive gifts from my clients. 4. Beth comes to the agency prior to the group and explains privately to you that she doesn’t really want to attend the group. She is coming because her boyfriend is strongly urging her to do so. How would you handle this situation? In this scenario, the issue is whether Beth should be coming involuntary to the group or not. The parties involved are Beth, the client and me, the social worker. Both parties would be impacted by Beth not being able to be successful in this group because she does not want to be there. One of the starts to want change in your life is to have self-awareness and look for help.

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However, Beth is not looking for help. I would be impacted because it would make my work more difficult. I cannot successfully help someone who does not want to be helped. The NASW ethical standards that is relevant to the dilemma is 1.03d Informed Consent which states, “In instances when clients are receiving services involuntarily, social workers should provide information about the nature and extent of services and about the extent of clients' right to refuse service” (NASW, 2022). This ethical standard explicitly states that I should inform Beth that she is in her right to refuse this service. I would integrate the previously identified standard to resolve the dilemma by informing Beth about her right of denying this service. She is not forced to come to this support group if she does not want to. I would give her all the information needed to come back when she feels like she is ready to come, but in the meantime to take the time she needs. This is a teamwork, and I cannot help her if she does not want to be helped. 5. David sends you a friend request on Facebook. How do you handle this situation? In this scenario, the issue is whether to accept the friend request from David or not. The parties involved are David, the client and me, the social worker. David would be impacted by either misinterpreting the acceptance/denial of the friend request. I could also be impacted by giving David access to my personal life on social media or being seen as rude for not accepting his friend request. The NASW ethical standards that is relevant to the dilemma is 1.06e Conflicts of Interest. It states, “Social workers should avoid communication with clients using technology (such as social networking sites, online chat, e-mail, text messages, telephone, and video) for personal or non-work-related purposes” (NASW, 2022). Accepting David’s friend request would facilitate communication between us through technology. Another ethical standard that is relevant to this

dilemma 1.06f states, “Social workers should be aware that posting personal information on professional Web sites or other media might cause boundary confusion, inappropriate dual relationships, or harm to clients” (NASW, 2022). Accepting David’s friend request would open my personal life of social media to him. Another ethical standard that is relevant to this dilemma is 1.06h states, “Social workers should avoid accepting requests from or engaging in personal relationships with clients on social networking sites or other electronic media to prevent boundary confusion, inappropriate dual relationships, or harm to clients” (NASW, 2022). Accepting David’s friend request would be violating 1.06h ethical standard. I would integrate the previously identified standards to resolve the dilemma by taking into consideration that I would be violating many ethical standards by accepting David’s friend request. As a result, I would deny his friend request and explain to him why I did so. I would explain to him the ethical standards I am expected to follow and accepting his friend request would be going against it. I would hope this explanation serves him to not feel a sense of rejection by me.

National Association of Social Workers. (2022). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers.

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