Ethical Decision Model for Social Workers

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Ethical problem identification
Potential Issues Involved
Relevant Laws and Ethical Guidelines
Obtaining Help
Possible Course of Action
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Ethical standards guide individual actions and ensure professionalism in their conduct. Every profession has its own codes of conduct to guide workers. However, not every situation has a prescribed action. The ethical decision model helps in making the appropriate decision in a complex scenario. The following discussion uses an ethical decision model to solve an ethical situation in social work.

Ethical problem identification

The first step in solving this case is identifying an ethical problem. The ethical consideration, in this case, is to either report the patient to the authority to prevent him from being discharged from probation or not to report him. Considering that he is dating my friend and he threatens to report that I was also drinking, it may be difficult to report him. If he is released from probation without full recovery, he will continue to use drugs. He may also attack my friend, who he is dating. If I report him, my friend may hate me for my action, and I may end up losing her (Carper and John 102). In addition, reporting that I saw him drunk may be challenged since I was drinking.

Potential Issues Involved

A social worker should identify potential issues in the case (Reamer 27). The main issues, in this case, are the changes in the client’s behavior, my report that will be used to determine probation discharge, his threats that I was drunk when I saw him, and the fact that he is dating my friend.

Relevant Laws and Ethical Guidelines

As a counselor for drug and abuse individuals, I am obligated to make a factual report on the progress of the client, any challenges faced in the treatment process, and if he should be released from probation. The law requires that a drug addict should only be discharged from probation if he has fully recovered, and he is no longer a threat to the society around him or her (Cohen 97).

Obtaining Help

The next step in the ethical decision model is seeking help from friends and supervisors for the appropriate action. I will seek assistance in the form of advice from their experiences when handling such matters in their social work practice (Reamer 89).

Possible Course of Action

There are several possible courses of action in this scenario; they include: report him to the probation officer, inform my friend on the person’s behavior, or fail to report the incident and make a good report (Bowles 76).

Consequences of Possible Course of Action

If I fail to report him, I will have violated my professional code of conduct, which can lead to the suspension of my license (Gray and Stephen 29). If I report him, he may challenge my decision, claiming that I was also drunk. In addition, I may lose my friend after she discovers I failed to make a good report for his release.

Decision

In this scenario, I would choose to report the client to the probation officer and explain that he has failed to change. The decision will be beneficial to the client since it will increase his probation time will be extended, which will ensure that he recovers from drug addiction (Dolgoff and Frank 108).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ethical decision model is useful in handling ethical dilemmas faced by health workers. One has to choose the best possible course of action by ensuring that the decision is legal and fair to all the parties. When solving an ethical issue, one should consult with his or her supervisors to understand their views on the issue.

Works Cited

Bowles, Wendy. Ethical Practice in Social Work: An Applied Approach. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin, 2007. Print.

Carper, Donald L, and John A. McKinsey. Understanding the Law. Mason: South- Western Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.

Cohen, Peter J. Drugs, Addiction, and the Law: Policy, Politics, and Public Health. Durham: Carolina Academic Press, 2004. Print.

Dolgoff, Ralph, and Frank Loewenberg M. Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice. Belmont: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2009. Print.

Gray, Mel, and Stephen Webb A. Ethics and Value Perspectives in Social Work. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010. Internet resource.

Reamer, Frederic G. Social Work Values and Ethics. New York: Columbia University Press, 2013. Print.

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