Course overview In practicing a profession, three interrelated but distinct areas come into play: professional values, ethics, and the law. Although all three areas are related to one another, sometimes they can conflict with one another. Sometimes, also, values can conflict with other values, as can ethics. When ethics conflict, an ethical dilemma results. When professional values conflict with professional ethics, the organized and generally agreed-upon framework of an ethical code is vital. When ethics and the law collide, it may
be necessary to consult the relevant professional organization. The American Medical Association, for example, has become involved when the law required that a physician be present at an execution. The AMA code of ethics explicitly forbids physicians from participating in capital punishment (Henry, 2018). This intermediate course is intended to provide healthcare professionals such as social workers with an overview of how professional values, ethics, and the law come into play in mental health practice.
PROFESSIONAL VALUES
Professional values are the “guiding beliefs and principles that influence your work behaviour” and that are “usually an extension of your personal values,” and though your values may evolve over time, core beliefs should not (Birmingham Community Healthcare, n.d.). Examples of professional values are integrity, honesty, and a striving for social justice. Although professional values are based on personal values, which are based on such factors as culture and ethnicity, they are also acquired over time – from professional experts, colleagues, the organization, and from actual situations in which an individual works. Values are also prioritized according to a person’s surrounding culture and other factors (Poorchangizi, Farokhzadian, Abbaszadeh, Mirzaee, & Borhani, 2017). Ethics and mental health practice Ethical issues are common in any profession. But mental health work, which relies heavily on relationship building and which can directly impact the health and welfare of its clients, poses even greater responsibilities and challenges. Mental health practitioners must rely on internal ethical guides through character and integrity, and external ethical guides such as laws and codes of conduct. Consider these two examples: Mary , a mental health counselor, provided counseling services at a community mental health center. Most of her clients did not have insurance nor could afford to pay privately anywhere else. After several years of post-graduate full-time practice, Mary felt competent providing services for most issues. After three sessions with one of her clients, her client confessed that he wanted a sex-change operation and would need Mary’s support through the process. Mary had taken few graduate level courses in human sexuality and had no other specialized training in this specialized area. If there was another clinician available who specialized in gender reassignment issues, her client could not afford it. Primary reason for action What is easiest, most comfortable, and/or desired by these mental health practitioners should never be the primary reason for action. If the needs of the client versus mental health therapist were the only considerations, decision-making would be easy. However, the mental health worker must also consider the ethical guidelines established by various government agencies and national mental health professional associations, as well as the law. In the first scenario, Mary must balance both her and her client’s desire to continue what appears to be a comfortable and trusting therapeutic relationship with the need to provide the most effective service for the client. Clearly Mary is not qualified to provide the service this client needs. Is her plan for a crash course in transgendered treatment adequate? Should she make a referral to a more competent therapist? Should she work with the client to overcome the financial barriers he is facing?
Although professional values and ethics may overlap, they are not identical. An individual may feel that it is important to dress in a certain way that he or she regards as professional, even though his or her professional ethical code does not specifically cover this requirement. Professional values may even conflict with professional ethics, as might be the case when an individual believes in complete honesty and openness and a code of ethics emphasizes privacy and confidentiality (Reference.com, 2020). Because professional values are based on personal values that have their roots in culture and background, it is important in mental health practice to be aware of “beliefs, assumptions and norms, and how these affect practice situations” (Bogg, 2010). Also, because professional values are so varied with individuals, a framework of professional ethics is important for the professional and the practitioner alike. Given her strong belief in client self-determination, the client’s belief in her ability to assist, and her willingness to read the literature and consult the Internet on protocol, Mary agreed to revise their plan of treatment and proceed. * * * Joaquin , a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and his client, a young man with schizophrenia, have successfully worked together to achieve stability in symptom management and independent living. Joaquin and his client are close in age, have many interests in common and consequently have achieved a strong rapport and mutual trust. Now Joaquin is transferring to a supervisory position, which will effectively end his professional relationship with the client. His client wishes to continue their relationship as friends and Joaquin is tempted to do so. In these two examples, each mental health practitioner demonstrates both a compassion for and commitment to their respective clients. They are at a crossroads in their relationship with their clients. When deciding what to do next, they must consider various issues that include what is in the best interest of the client and the client’s right to self-determination. If Mary makes the wrong decision, she might either violate ethical guidelines or the law, or both. She may be committing a medical error and putting her client at risk of harm. Her actions may also result in Mary being sued and/or censured. Joaquin must ask himself the question, “Am I considering crossing the boundaries of our professional relationship for my own needs or for those of my client?” Clearly both Joaquin and his client value a friendship, but what potential harmful impact could this have on one or both of them? Ethical decision-making is a complex process, requiring mental health practitioners to look at not just the immediate impact but also the long-term and future consequences of their actions.
EliteLearning.com/Social-Work
Book Code: SWTX1524
Page 26
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