Ethics & Confidentiality

Question 1

Competence

Answer 1

essential to ethical practice; protects clients from harm

workers, referrals, and consultants must be competent in the services they are providing

only represent self as competent within boundaries of education, training, license, certification, or other relevant professional experience

only provide services in which competency is achieved

Question 2

Use of records in evaluation

Answer 2

workers must obtain voluntary and WRITTEN informed consent from clients without any penalty for refusal

Question 3

Primary Mission of Social Work

Answer 3

Enhance human well-being and help meet basic human needs of all people with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of vulnerable populations (oppressed, poverty, etc)

Question 4

Ethical Dilemma

Answer 4

Predicament in which a social work must decide between two viable solutions that seem to have similar ethical value

Sometimes values conflict with one another

Question 5

Ethical Problem Solving

Answer 5

1. Identify ethical standards that are being compromised
2. Determine whether there is an ethical issue or dilemma
3. Weight ethical issues in light of key social work values and principles as defined by code of ethics
4. Suggest modifications in light of prioritized ethical values
5. Implement modifications in light of prioritized ethical values
6. Monitor for new ethical issues or dilemmas

Question 6

Informed Consent

Answer 6

Clear and understandable language to inform clients of:

The purpose of services

Risks related

Limits to services

Relevant costs

Reasonable alternatives

Clients rights to refuse or withdraw consent

Time frame covered by consent

[provide client opportunity to ask questions]

Question 7

Physical Contact with Clients

Answer 7

Setting clear, appropriate, and sensitive boundaries that govern physical contact

Social workers should not engage in physical contact when there is a possibility of psychological harm to a client (cradling or caressing)

Question 8

Sexual Relations with Clients

Answer 8

Under no circumstances engage in sexual activities with current clients

Should not engage with former clients, if they do, worker assumes full burden of demonstrating the the former client has not been exploited, coerced, or manipulated even unintentionally

Question 9

Sexual Relations with Client supports

Answer 9

Social worker should not engage in such relationships for risk of exploitation of or harm to client

Worker assume full burden for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries

Question 10

Prior Sexual Partners

Answer 10

Workers should not provide services d/t likelihood for boundary issues

Question 11

Dual Relationships

Answer 11

Occur when social worker engages in more than one relationship with client, whether professional, social, or business

Worker should not engage; if unavoidable, must set clear boundaries and take steps to ensure clients safety

Supervisors should not engage in such with supervisees

Question 12

Conflicts of Interest

Answer 12

When personal interests may impair judgement and/or services

Social worker should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest

Should inform client

Take reasonable steps to resolve the issue that makes clients interest primary and protected

May require termination with proper referral if not otherwise resolved

Question 13

Self-Disclosure

Answer 13

Should only serve client/treatment; remain minimal; consult supervisor FIRST

Can be harmful and exploitative; unravels boundaries

Question 14

Electronic Media

Answer 14

Limitations in confidentiality should be thoroughly explained to clients through informed consent

Question 15

Assent

Answer 15

Non-written agreement

When a client is a minor or lacks capacity, third party provides informed consent while client provides assent

Question 16

Advanced Directives

Answer 16

Written directions regarding type of care client does or does not want to receive when dying

Legal commitment to honor directives when client can no longer communicate wishes

Question 17

Physicians Orders of Life Sustaining Treatment

Answer 17

Written doctors orders reflecting preferences for medical care

Used to direct emergency medical personnel in following clients preferences

Doctors orders include whether a person should or should not receive certain treatments to relive symptoms even if death is inevitable such as CPR, ambulatory transportation, aggressive treatments (blood transfusions, chemotherapy)

Question 18

Ethical Practice in Research and Evaluation

Answer 18

Must consider possible consequences and follow guidelines developed for the protection of participants

Appropriate institutional review boards should be consulted

Informed consent regarding nature, extent and duration of participation including disclosure of risks and benefits

Should not design research that does not obtain consent (observation) unless rigorously necessary and all other options have been exhausted

Question 19

Gifts/Exchanges

Answer 19

Social workers should avoid accepting goods or services from clients as payment

Bartering can only be a consisdered arrangement when culturally appropriate; worker assumes full burden for demonstrating arrangement will not be detrimental to client or professional relationship

Question 20

Records

Answer 20

Clients should be allowed reasonable access to records

Interpretation should be provided if there is risk of harm regarding misunderstanding

Limits to records access should only be made when clear evidence for potential serious harm

Question 21

Legal orders of disclosure

Answer 21

If without consent, worker should request court withdraw or limit order as narrowly as possible

Subpoena - worker attends, but does not provide records unless with separate documents order

Question 22

Deceased Clients

Answer 22

Confidentiality standards still apply

Question 23

Legal action against worker

Answer 23

Worker has right to protect self and may release records as part of defense
[limit to only relevant information]

Question 24

Mandated Reporting of Impaired Colleagues

Answer 24

Consult with colleague when feasible and assist in taking remedial action

Interference with practice effectiveness after colleague has not taken feasible steps to address impairments - worker should take appropriate actions

Question 25

Core Values of Social Work Practice

Answer 25

Service

Social justice

Dignity and worth of person

Importance of human relationships

Integrity

Competence

Question 26

Self-Determination

Answer 26

Concept that clients are qualified to make their own decisions about their lives

Workers respect and promote self-determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals

May limit when potential imminent risk to self or others