Nasw Code Of Ethics Case Study

Application of Ethical Codes to Ethical Dilemmas
I worked as a social worker in a long term care facility with a ventilator unit for 16 years. During my time there, there were a few residents who lived on the ventilator unit who decided to terminally wean off the vent or it was decided with the doctor on the unit, the guardian , and an ethic’s committee meeting a resident would terminally wean off the vent due to a poor prognosis, and lack of a acceptable quality of life. These decisions where rarely debated with most of the staff, family, physician, and administration in agreement for the wean to occur. However, when a younger woman with a young child decided she no longer wanted to live attached to a vent for the rest of her life, and stated …show more content…
Dignity and worth of the person states social workers promote their clients’ right to self-determination, and help to resolve conflicts between the client and the broader society's interest ("NASW code of ethics," 2008). Many people in the broader society may not understand or condone a person deciding to end their life. However, due my extensive experience in the healthcare industry, I have decided this is no one decisions but the person who is in the situation. The person needs to find peace with their decision, and all I can do is promote their right to self determination. In the code of ethics, under section 1.02 it states “Social workers respect, and promote the right of clients to self-determination, and assist clients to identify and clarify their goals,” ("NASW code of ethics," 2008, p. 7). My supervisor, and I worked with this resident to obtain her goal due to her right to self-determination. We knew her decision may be hurtful to her family, but she had the right to make the decision she did. Surprising, her family was very sympathetic to her situation and supported her through this difficult