Please see the APA formatted paper I have uploaded. I advise you use textbooks with
journal articles from databases such as ProQuest, EBSCO, and so on. You may also use Google
Scholar. Do not use sources from Google and Wikipedia as these sources are not peer reviewed
most of the time. Again, make sure you look at the APA formatted paper that I have uploaded for
the group assignment. You need to have double spaced pages with a title page (names of group
members) the font should be Times New Roman size 12. You should have headings in the paper
as well. You should have 3-4 pages for the assignment. Answer each question with a heading and
without the question numbers.
Freedom vs. Duty in Clinical Social Work
Mental health clinicians are taught to introspect about the degree to which their own background,
culture, values, and beliefs may affect their reactions to their clients, and to strive to maintain
objectivity in the process of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Clinical social workers are the
largest professional group providing mental health services in the United States, providing
services in urban and rural outpatient and inpatient settings. Social workers are seen as different
from clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and other occupational groups that provide therapy in
the emphasis that social work places on social justice, cultural competence, and respect for
diversity. According to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, the social
work profession requires its members to “act to prevent and eliminate…discrimination against
any person, group, or class on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual
orientation, age, marital status, political belief, religion, or mental or physical disability.”
An ethical dilemma may arise when the religious or moral beliefs of the social worker interfere
with the duty of all health care professionals to provide optimal service to clients and to “do no
harm.” This issue made national headlines in a related context, when Kim Davis, a clerk in
Rowan County, Kentucky, was jailed after defying a federal court order to issue marriage
licenses to gay couples. Her action was based on her contention that to do so would violate her
religious beliefs. In his ruling, Judge David L. Bunning of the United States District Court stated,
“If you give people the opportunity to choose which orders they follow, that’s what potentially
causes problems.” In defense of Davis, Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation wrote, “Ms.
Davis felt she had to follow her conscience… That, after all, is what religious freedom and
religious accommodations are all about: creating the space for citizens to fulfill their duties, as
they understand them, to God—regardless of what the rest of us think.”
A similar conflict between religious faith and the requirements of one’s job or one’s profession
may be seen in social work practice in the following scenario:
A clinical social worker has been treating a 25-year-old man for depression and anxiety. In the
fourth session, the client reveals that he is gay, and that he has not “come out” to his family. He
states that he has been involved in a committed, monogamous relationship with another man, and
is contemplating marriage. He would like to inform his parents of this good news, but is fearful
that they may angrily reject him. He is seeking counseling around this issue. The social worker
belongs to a faith tradition that believes that homosexuality is a sin, and whose leaders have been
prominent in opposing samesex marriage. The social worker, who had up to this point believed
that treatment was going well, is concerned that his own religiously based objections to
homosexuality will interfere with his ability to provide unbiased mental health treatment
services. The social worker contemplates informing the client that he will have to transfer him to
another therapist.
References
Sudolsky, M. (n.d.). Freedom vs. duty in clinical social work. Retrieved from
https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/
CLO1/CLO4
1. Do you think mental health providers should be able to decline to provide services to
individuals whose lifestyle they find morally wrong? Should clinicians have the freedom to
select who they wish to treat on the basis of their own values or beliefs? Why or why not?
Mental health providers are professionals who diagnose mental health conditions and provide
treatment (Mayo Clinic, 2017). Mental health providers are responsible for working with
individuals, groups or communities to improve their mental health, examine issues such as
depression, abuse and LGBTQ related situations. As a mental health provider you should be
prepared to deal with clients from different cultures, clients who share different views and come
from different backgrounds. Mental Health workers should have the ability to properly execute
their job and put aside all personal values that can come in conflict with the clients they are
meant to serve. Mental health providers should not be able to decline services to individuals
whose lifestyle they find morally wrong and also they should not have the freedom to select who
they wish to treat. As a Mental health worker it would be beneficial if one practices role
morality. The role morality is the tendency we use in different moral standards for the different
roles we play in society. For example, we may follow one set of standards when among our coworkers or friends and a different set of standards when among patients. With this practice it
helps to eliminate discrimination and other offensive acts. The NASW Code of Ethics (2018)
Standard 1.01 says that social workers’ primary commitment is to their clients. Standard 1.01
implies that social workers should give precedence to their clients’ needs for service, even over
their religious beliefs. Further, Standard 4.02 suggests that social workers should not
discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. In summary, this means that though they might
consider an act as morally wrong, they should not decline to provide service.
Clinician refers to a healthcare professional qualified in the clinical practice of medicine (Center
for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2019). Clinicians may be physicians, nurses, pharmacists,
or other allied health professionals. A person that majors in this field they choose to care, they
will cherish the value of caring enough to act, even when that value is threatened (MorrisonValfre’s, 2017).A clinicians should not have the freedom to select who they wish to treat on the
basis of their own values or beliefs. When these individuals choose this line of work they agree
to follow the code of ethic and the core values by dedicating their service for the welfare of
mankind and promote the well-being of all without discrimination, they serve as a voice for
equality. A person should not turn down or turn away based on one’s own values or belief. As a
social worker, you should uphold exemplary public service by helping people in need and
overcome their social issues. You must elevate public service above self-interest or personal gain
(Social work: core values & code of ethics, 2020). Being a social worker means you should
advocate on behalf of those who have no voice in society, not against them. According to social
work; core values & code of ethics (2020), the dignity and worth of the person; everyone has
their own social and cultural values, professionals in this line of work have to be mindful of
them. Social workers must treat each person with dignity and respect to help them reach their full
potential. They should be mindful of their role of the persons they serve and to society as a
whole and seek out fair solutions for all parties. Each social worker must follow the National
Association of Social Workers professional code of ethics, this should include; service, social
justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and
competence.
2. Is it fair to a client if mental health services are provided by a social worker who
harbors animosity or condemnation toward the client on the basis of the client’s sexual
orientation? Would the client be better served by a clinician who did not harbor such
beliefs? Why or why not?
It is not fair to a client to be treated by a social worker who harbors animosity or condemnation
on the basis of the client’s sexual orientation.
Social workers in daily practice make a continuous series of treatment decisions, weighing the
relative advantages and disadvantages of various alternatives or strategies. Favorable decisions
ultimately are selected on the basis of acceptable practice theory in conjunction with the values
of the profession, which should guide social workers in their professional capacity. As Social
workers are engaged in moral decision making, they are urged to be aware of and sensitive to the
ways in which their value preferences continuously influence and pervade the process.
An ethical dilemma may arise when the religious or moral beliefs of the social worker interfere
with the duty of all health care professionals to provide optimal service to clients. As ethical
dilemmas are resolved. Social workers are encouraged to review their decision-making process.
When two or more values are activated, it is unlikely that a person can behave in a manner that is
equally compatible. The response of social workers to ethical dilemmas depends on whether the
ethical issues are distinguished from the practice issues and how the worker has learned to think
about the ethical issues.
A client would be better served by a clinician who does not harbor animosity or condemnation,
as that client would be receiving a standard of care. That client would also be treated
professionally, and would not be subject to any animosity from a biased social worker.
3. Should clients be asked to identify their sexual orientation upon admission to mental
health facilities so that appropriate provider assignments may be made? If the client does
not divulge that he or she is gay until treatment has begun, does it risk harm to the client if
a transfer to another therapist is made? On the other hand, does it risk harm to the client
to continue work with a clinician who has antipathy toward him on the basis of his sexual
orientation? Explain your reasoning.
I believe that clients should not be asked to identify their sexual orientation upon admission to a
mental health facility. One the other hand, “theoretical writings and research suggest that the
onset, course, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders among lesbians and gay men differ
in important ways from those of other individuals.”(Cochran, 2001) In cases where the problems
faced by the client are not connected to their sexual orientation The patient does not necessarily
need to let this institution know this piece of personal information, if they are not comfortable
with doing so. In other cases where the client’s problem is a result of their sexual orientation it
would be wise to disclose their sexual orientation.
Reticence in disclosing sexual orientation has been noted in alcohol treatment settings.
When therapeutic issues are woven together with sexual orientation, nondisclosure may
result in less effective interventions. From the perspective of the behavioral model of
health services utilization sexual orientation may be an important but unmeasured
predisposing component (Cochran, 2001).
Counselors with strong religious beliefs against same-gender sexual desires and
behaviors believe that the best way to avoid imposing personal values is to refer LGB
clients to other counselors.Referring could be interpreted as rejection or abandonment,
especially since disclosure of same-gender sexual feelings or disclosure of identity as
gay, lesbian, or bisexual often occurs after the therapeutic alliance has been created
(Miller, 2014).
Therefore referring your client to another therapist does risk harm to the client.
Therapeutic healing is understood to occur in the presence of therapeutic empathy and
neutrality, both of which are compromised by the presence of bias (Goettche, 2015). Therefore,
continuing to work with a therapist who has antipathy toward him would totally ruin the
therapeutic alliance and the client would shut down completely.
4. In the Davis case, officials of the Mormon Church asserted that the duty to obey the law
supersedes any religious objections that Mormon county clerks may have to gay marriage.
Do you think requirements included in the National Association of Social Workers Code of
Ethics to advocate for oppressed minority groups outweigh sincere religious objections that
may be held by some social workers? Why or why not?
We would agree with the officials of the Marmon Church who asserts that the duty to obey the
law supersedes any religious objection to gay marriage. Also, that the requirements included in
the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics to advocate for oppressed minority
groups outweigh sincere religious objections that may be held by some social workers. The code
of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers states that each worker must act to
prevent and eliminate discrimination against any person, group, class, ethnicity, national origin,
sex, sexual orientation, ages, marital status, political belief, mental or physical disabilities and
religion. It acts as the Bible for all Social Workers to act ethically and uphold the values of the
profession. At no time should the Social Worker allow their personal beliefs to interfere with
their job. In Kim Davis’ case, she ought to obey the laws of Kentucky and not her religious
belief, since same sex-marriage is legal in that State since 2014, under the Supreme Court ruling
in Obergefell v Hodges where it was held that Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license
a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people
of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State. However,
the Marriage Act 1897 in Jamaica does not recognize marriage between same-sex persons.
Hence, Social Workers in Jamaica can disregard the Code of Ethics which is not law and argue
that their religious belief prevents them from dealing with gay persons, exposing them to
discrimination.
According to Charles “the fundamental Christian proscription against homosexuality started in
the church and influenced the behavior of government, police and lyricist.” In the Sunday
Gleaner dated October 6, 2019, Gordon Robinson thinks it was wrong for the Mayor of Montego
Bay to refuse to allow gays to use the cultural center for the launching their event under the
theme “Is Jamaica Ready for same-sex Marriage?” Councilor Charles Sinclair said “We, as a
government agency, must ensure that we uphold the Constitution of Jamaica, and, in upholding
the Constitution, why would we engage a building controlled by the municipal corporation to be
used to hold a function to promote same-sex marriage? It’s not consistent with the mandate that
we have.” Arguably, gay persons suffered another blow in promoting their human right to be free
from discrimination.
In concluding, it is clear that it is case of law versus morality based on one’s religious belief, but
according to Holmes, the idea that morality should not be equated with the contents of law
because morality, per se, has no objective validity and moral terms, as used in law, lose their
ethical meaning. Therefore, laws should be obeyed and not based on one’s religious belief.
REFERENCE
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2019, January 2). Clinicians. Retrieved
from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-AssessmentInstruments/MMS/QMY-Clinicians
Mayo Clinic. (2017, May 16). How to find a good counselor or other mental health
provider. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mentalillness/in-depth/mental-health-providers/art-20045530
Morrison-Valfre’s, M (2017). Foundation of mental health care in Canada. Ethical and
legal issues p.g 22-23
National Association of Social Workers. (2018). National Association of Social
Workers (NASW). Retrieved from
https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Social work: core values & code of ethics,( 2020). Online MSW programs. Retrieved
from onlinemswprograms.com/social-work/ core-values-code-ethics
Reference for question 2
Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica - ProQuest. Proquest.com. (2021). Retrieved 15
March 2021, from
https://www.proquest.com/docview/215272109/73E52B6651DB4FD6PQ/2?accountid=172739.