Essay On Ethical Dilemma

716 Words3 Pages

As I read the clients message I struggled in identifying how I should address the dilemma at hand and wonder if perhaps not responding right away and seeking assistance from my program supervisor could help me make the right decision. I was cleared that as a social worker I have the moral obligation to consider the ethical implications of my decisions in others and wanted to help the client to the best of my abilities. As I struggled I considered the ethical principals that constituted the dilemma. The first ethical principle being the dignity and worth of the person- to respect your clients right to self-determination. This can be done by helping the client enhance her capacity/ability to make her own decisions and address her own needs. Second, …show more content…

I understood that I would not be accepting the client 's friend request but needed to assist her with her current situation. I figured that I would ask the client to come to the office, but in order to do that, I would have to inform my supervisor. I was unsure if I should disclose her HIV status, as it was what I was potentially going to help her with. As a social worker, I must respect the clients right to privacy and cannot disclose confidential information to a third-party individual, unless the client has authorized such disclosure. I also wanted to ensure to promote self-determination in decision making related to HIV/AIDS testing and treatment decision for the client. Therefore, I decided to informed my supervisor that the client had reached out via a social media account and that she reported needing immediate assistance. I decided not to disclose that the client was HIV positive until I discussed with her if it was okay if I did. The client herself ended up disclosing her situation to the supervisor and we helped her build a plan that was appropriate for her. The client was able to make her own decisions on how she wanted to move forward with her current situation. (NASW Code of Ethics,