Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Professional Concerns Chapter Nine

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Ethical Considerations Codes of ethics Competence and responsibility Confidentiality Clients’ rights

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Ethical Principles AutonomyNonmaleficenceBeneficenceJusticeFidelityVeracity

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Autonomy This represents the commitment to respect a client’s right to define his or her own problem This serves to foster self-determination and support for client independence Remember empowerment

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Nonmaleficence This means that the professional will not cause the client harm In providing service the professional will not take risks that might bring to the client

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Beneficence This defines an act in someone’s best interest This is client focus and acts with the client’s best interest in mind This also means occasionally opposing other interests

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Justice This means that the profession will act to promote equality of access for clients The profession is intentional fair in all interactions The profession adheres to principles of nondiscrimination

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Fidelity This means to honor the trust a clients place in their helper It works to avoid the erosion of that trust It mean that the profession works to fulfill and maintain their responsibility toward clients

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Veracity Professionals are honest with clients The professional is committed to providing clients with all the information they need It also means the providing of fair and honest feedback

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Codes of Ethics Goals or aims of profession Protection for client Guidelines for professional behavior Professional identity

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Codes of Ethics: Purpose and Limitations The primary purpose of for a code of ethics is to establish guidelines for professional behavior and to assist members of a profession in establishing a professional identity They can serve as a benchmark in the enforcement of ethical standards

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Codes of Ethics: Purpose and Limitations Codes of ethics do have limitations; they cannot foresee or address every issue Once again, however, they do provide a frame work for ethical behavior in general

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Codes of Ethics: Purpose and Limitations While a code of ethics may include a confidentiality provision it cannot supersede legal obligations as stated by a legislative body California Supreme Courts, in Tarasoff (1976) has ruled that there is a duty to warn potential victims of danger

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Ethics and The profession The law DiversityTechnology

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Codes of Ethics and the Profession Codes of ethics usually provide a means for a profession to police itself This self-regulation usually provides for two types of discipline related to a violation –Informal –Formal

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Codes of Ethics and the Profession Informal discipline is seen in the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which colleagues exert pressure on one another to encourage the appropriate ethical behavior Formal discipline is generally public and a professional may be censured or barred from the profession

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Codes of Ethics and the Law The law is generally supportive or, at the very least, neutral toward ethical codes The law does, however, intervene and override an ethical code to protect the publics health, safety, and welfare

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Codes of Ethics and Diversity The Ethical Standards of Human Service Professionals has a preamble stating: –[The need for] “an appreciation of human beings in all their diversity” –This essentially requires the knowledge necessary to provide each client with “respect, acceptance, and dignity…”

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Codes of Ethics and Technology The ever increasing use of technology has created a number of concerns for the Human Services Professional –The most obvious areas of concern deal with confidentiality and the multitude of electronic means of communication –The Web, teleconferencing, voice mail, , etc. present points of concern

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Competence Academic training Practical training Supervised experience

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Responsibility Protect clients Support profession Promote justice

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Confidentiality Privileged communication Relative confidentiality Concerns about technology

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Clients’ Rights Right to privacy Informed consent Professional disclosure statement Protection

Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Ethical Decision Making Moral responsibleness Model –Identify problem –Consult –Explore options –Choose and act