Ethical Dilemma &Code of Practise

8/11/2019 Ethical Dilemma &Code of Practise

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Code of Practice and

Ethical Dilemmas1


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The Code of Practice is an operational statement of

the central values of the socialwork profession.

Social work students should bethoroughly familiar with it.

Represents standards of ethicalbehavior for social workers.

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Contents of the Code of Practice

1. Basic values and beliefs 2. Principles of practice

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Principles of Practice Personal Conduct Clients Colleagues Agency Profession Society

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What is an ethical dilemma? It is aConflict between ... ones personal and professional values two values/ethical principles two possible actions each with reasons

strongly favorable and unfavorable two unsatisfactory alternatives ones values/principles and ones perceived

role the need to act and the need to reflect

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Can ethical dilemma be avoided?

You can avoid ethicaldilemmas! But...

Youcannot completely

avoid ethical dilemmas!

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You cannot completely avoid ethicaldilemmas! It is best to prepare yourself for them by examining your own values from

time to time and learning all you can about:

how past ethical problems in yourplacement settings were resolved.

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What are the behaviors thatwill almost always be viewed as

unethical ?8


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Sexual intimacy with clients

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Libeling or slandering a client

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Assaulting, causing physical injuries, orplacing clients in danger

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Discriminatory practices

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Withdrawing services precipitously(abandoning a client)

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Failure to exercise reasonableprecautions with a potentially suicidal

client

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Promising cures for problems

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How do I avoid rushing intoethical dilemmas?

Develop a working knowledge ofthe Code of Practice

(by necessity they cannot be specific to everypossible ethics violation)

By anticipating likely troublespots before they occur.

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The priority ranking of ethicalprinciples (Lowenberg and Dolgoff ,1992) Anapproach for ordering social work values that might help you getoff the horns of a dilemma. Protection of life Equality Autonomy and freedom Least harm Quality of life Privacy and confidentiality Truthfulness and full disclosure

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A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V.Joseph, 1983).

looking at all therelevant facts and developingvalid arguments

for variouscourses of action,

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A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V.Joseph, 1983)

3. consideration of practice wisdom ,

personal beliefsand values , andhow these might

influence thefinal decision ,

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4. developing options ,exploring compromises ,

evaluating alternatives inan attempt to find acourse of action with the

least negative effects,and

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5. choosing a

positionthat you can

defend .

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The End

Read the Code of Practice and

keep a copy while you practice

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Ethical Dilemma &Code of Practise