Application
MHS 560 Professional Ethics
Priscilla Bailey
One of the important things I have learned is about confidentiality. Confidedilaity “refers
to the professional obligation of the social worker or other professional (or bureaucrat) not to
reveal to anyone information that she has received from the client without the client’s informed
consent. If your client discloses that they have harmed someone or has said that they will harm a
person. Then your are obligated by the human service ethics code statement 3 “Human service
professionals protect the client's right to privacy and confidentiality except when such
confidentiality would cause harm to the client or others, when agency guidelines state otherwise,
or under other stated conditions (e.g., local, state, or federal laws). Professionals inform clients of
the limits of confidentiality prior to the onset of the helping relationship.” Where I work, the
clinicians are allowed to disclose information to us about the clients that I work with in class.
The clinician will discuss what is going on in the home so that I can get a better understanding of
what the client may be doing at home. Disclosing information helps the adaptive behavioral
specialist, parents, and clinician work together to help the client with social and emotional
problems. Another way that we have to break confidentiality is if our client comes in with visible
marks on them we must question the client and then if necessary call child protective services. If
the client was harmed by guardian or parent I must break confidentiality. Confidentiality
promotes trust between the client and the human service provider. (Doloff, Harrington,
Loewenberg, 2012) It is important that we understand that confidentiality protects both the client
human service provider. Maintaining the confidentiality is one of the core principles guiding
human service professionals. According to Guthmann the “principle that relationships between
patients and health care providers is confidential dates back to the Hippocratic Oath”. To release
information “verbally and written or electronic form beyond the client /provider relationship
belongs to the client. Confidentiality is one of the most important code that human service
providers must keep in mind no matter where they work.
Duty to protect is another important that I learned about in professional ethics. When I
read the article Ethics and Disaster: Mapping the Terrorist. In Generations 331, 4. I did not
understand why the nursing home director did not get the residents out. A hurricane is the only
natural disaster that you know is coming and when it will hit land. I felt even then they did not
take the residents best interest into consideration. The employees that worked at the nursing
home lives were put into danger as well. Human services providers have a societal obligation to
protect others from harm when necessary. As a human service provider if I know that client is in
danger I have an obligation to consult my supervisor on the best way to handle the situation. I
know that as a human service provider I have a duty to protect my clients and others that could
potential to harm another person.
Limits on professional relationship one relationship that I learned more about is the role
of dual relationship. There are many kinds of dual relationships and depending upon where you
live and work will determine how if you have a dual relationship problem. Dural relationship is
when a “human service provider/social worker starts a second relationship with the client; that
may cause potential conflicts between their professional duties, social, religious or business
duties”(Dolgoff, Harrington, Loewenberg, 2012 pg.127). Where I work if I know the clients
uncles, friend of a friend that is considered a dual relationship and the client will not be placed in
my class. I will not even be allowed to be part of any discussions concerning the client. I learned
that in smaller community’s dual relationship are more likely to happen because the community
is small. If the relationship is not harmful then the relationship does not have a conflict of
interest. Human service providers that find themselves in situation where they see client at the
same excising class once a week then the human service provider should not change their
activity, but try not engage with the client.
Value neutrality and Imposing Values according to the National Social Workers
Association “should be aware of the impact on ethical decision making of their clients’ and their
personal values and cultural and religious beliefs and practices. As a human service provider,
you must be aware of your bias between cultural and professional conflicts. Social workers to
open-mindness, as well as to equality (equal opportunity for all),helpfulness (working for the
welfare of others), being broadminded social justice, human rights, clients self-determination,
and respect for diversity differ from the values held by the general population”( Dolgoff,
Harrington, Loewenberg, 2012. pg. 109). It is important that social workers do not oppose their
own “beliefs, values, or judgments” on the clients that they work with. I learned as a human
service provider you are to help the client with their self-determination.
Law and Ethics: The Problem of unethical But Legal, Behavior. What I learned it is
important that social workers are important know the law, and if they do not then be able to go to
their supervisor who can guide them in the right decision when the law is involved. The law tells
us what we can or cannot do and tell us what can happen if the law break the law. The difference
between law and ethics, “law is obligator and enforced by treat of punishment, compliance with
ethical principles is voluntary and reinforced only by a moral respect for values” (Dolgoff,
Harrington, Loewenberg, 2012 pg.31). Laws can change but ethical rules “change over time, are
generally resistant to deliberate changes” (Dolgoff, Harrington, Loewenberg, 2012 pg.31). I
learned that ethics and the law can conflict you can have a client that has HIV and knows this
and the client is having unprotected sex with others without informing them. As a human service
provider you must make an ethical decision that will protect those that are being harmed. In this
case the individuals that are having sex with the client are the ones being harmed. The dilemma
is the trusting relationship that has been built between the client and the social worker. I
knowing what the law, and ethics are and how to handle situations when they occur will help in
the best decision that will help the client or others that may be harmed.
What I have learned in Professional ethic I will carry with me in my profession. I will
seek help from supervisors when I not sure of how to handle a situation that I am unsure of
handling myself. Having the human service code of ethics available to guide you when needed.
References
Dolgoff Ralph, Harrington Donna, Loewenberg Frank (2012) Ethical Decisions for Social Work
Practice 9th Edition Retrieved from Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning (Kindle Edition)