The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics is a list of rules meant to help social workers make informed decisions when faced with an ethical dilemma. These rules are broken down into categories in order to maintain a social worker’s responsibility to their clients, colleagues, and the profession. Although, making a responsible decision is easier said than done. Social workers are bound to come across dilemmas in their professional career that cannot be answered simply by looking at the ethical rules. That is, the rules may conflict with one another. In that case, social workers can turn to the EPS (ethical principles screen) to help make an informed decision by ranking the principles associated with a particular dilemma.
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This specific code states, “Social workers’ primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients” (“National Association of Social Workers”, 2008). “Commitment to clients” is the first rule that is discussed in the code and the rule from which Fran’s dilemma arises. Fran’s client Millicent is a shy, lonely girl who doesn’t have much of a social life. Fran’s son, Wally, is similar; he is a loner who has been unpopular for the majority of his time in school. Somehow, Millicent and Wally found each other and make one another very happy (see the appendix for more information about the case of Fran). If Fran is going to obey the number one rule and commit to supporting the well-being of Millicent in any way that she can, she is also supporting her client’s relationship with her own son. Generally, Fran’s dilemma is a struggle between her obligation to a client’s well-being and her obligation to her professional conduct as a social …show more content…
According to ethical rule number 1.02, Fran is to respect Millicent’s right to free choice, especially if it adds to her well-being (“National Association of Social Workers”, 2008). If Fran obeys this rule and Millicent freely chooses to continue to see Wally, she is putting herself at risk to violate not only every other ethical code that was previously discussed, but also the integrity of the profession. By doing this, Fran is sending the message that she does not hold herself to any standards and makes up her own rules. This only paints a bad name for the rest of the
This specific code states, “Social workers’ primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients” (“National Association of Social Workers”, 2008). “Commitment to clients” is the first rule that is discussed in the code and the rule from which Fran’s dilemma arises. Fran’s client Millicent is a shy, lonely girl who doesn’t have much of a social life. Fran’s son, Wally, is similar; he is a loner who has been unpopular for the majority of his time in school. Somehow, Millicent and Wally found each other and make one another very happy (see the appendix for more information about the case of Fran). If Fran is going to obey the number one rule and commit to supporting the well-being of Millicent in any way that she can, she is also supporting her client’s relationship with her own son. Generally, Fran’s dilemma is a struggle between her obligation to a client’s well-being and her obligation to her professional conduct as a social …show more content…
According to ethical rule number 1.02, Fran is to respect Millicent’s right to free choice, especially if it adds to her well-being (“National Association of Social Workers”, 2008). If Fran obeys this rule and Millicent freely chooses to continue to see Wally, she is putting herself at risk to violate not only every other ethical code that was previously discussed, but also the integrity of the profession. By doing this, Fran is sending the message that she does not hold herself to any standards and makes up her own rules. This only paints a bad name for the rest of the