Social Work Ethical Dilemma
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- Date Submitted: 03/29/2014 06:27 AM
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Analysis of a Social Work Practice Dilemma
I have been given a piece of written literature and asked to ascertain, “what are the ethical dilemmas in relation to individual rights and responsibilities of the different people in the scenario?”
Firstly I decided to research what is the definition of a dilemma?
Ethical Dilemma, “a choice between two equally unwelcome alternatives relating to human Welfare…”Banks (cited in Beckett and Maynard, 2005)
“Ethical dilemmas in direct practice involve a number of issues. Among the most prominent themes are confidentiality and privacy; self-determination and paternalism; divided loyalties; professional boundaries and conflict of issues; and the relationship between professional and personal values.”
Reamer (1999:93)
“Social workers must guard strenuously against the possibility of exploiting or oppressing their clientele through unethical practices. Consequently, the question of moral values in social work has to be recognised as a major one”. Thompson (2005:108).
Mr X is eighty five years old and originally from Somalia. His wife died recently and he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. “Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic (persistent) disorder of the brain. It mainly affects the way the brain co-ordinates the movements of the muscles in various parts of the body. The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are usually stiffness, shaking (tremor) and slowness of movement. Other symptoms may also develop. Symptoms typically become gradually worse over time.” www.parkinson’s.org.uk. He lives alone and is supported by home care workers. He also attends the local daycentre twice a week. Homecare workers and daycentre staff have observed Mr X to be “troubled and less communicative lately”. “Social work involves working with some of the most disadvantaged sections of the community and with people who, for a variety of reasons, are experiencing major problems and distress”. Thompson (2005:108)
Mr X has a...
I have been given a piece of written literature and asked to ascertain, “what are the ethical dilemmas in relation to individual rights and responsibilities of the different people in the scenario?”
Firstly I decided to research what is the definition of a dilemma?
Ethical Dilemma, “a choice between two equally unwelcome alternatives relating to human Welfare…”Banks (cited in Beckett and Maynard, 2005)
“Ethical dilemmas in direct practice involve a number of issues. Among the most prominent themes are confidentiality and privacy; self-determination and paternalism; divided loyalties; professional boundaries and conflict of issues; and the relationship between professional and personal values.”
Reamer (1999:93)
“Social workers must guard strenuously against the possibility of exploiting or oppressing their clientele through unethical practices. Consequently, the question of moral values in social work has to be recognised as a major one”. Thompson (2005:108).
Mr X is eighty five years old and originally from Somalia. His wife died recently and he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. “Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic (persistent) disorder of the brain. It mainly affects the way the brain co-ordinates the movements of the muscles in various parts of the body. The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are usually stiffness, shaking (tremor) and slowness of movement. Other symptoms may also develop. Symptoms typically become gradually worse over time.” www.parkinson’s.org.uk. He lives alone and is supported by home care workers. He also attends the local daycentre twice a week. Homecare workers and daycentre staff have observed Mr X to be “troubled and less communicative lately”. “Social work involves working with some of the most disadvantaged sections of the community and with people who, for a variety of reasons, are experiencing major problems and distress”. Thompson (2005:108)
Mr X has a...