My Chosen Ethical Framework
Tammy Mink
Human Service Ethics
6/23/2013
My Chosen Ethical Framework
In the field of Human Services a worker is faced with ethical dilemmas on a everyday basis. In some cases,a client may want to make choices that may not be in their best interest. As Harry and Mahoney (1999) stated " the paramount goal of human service workers is to enable people to live more satisfying,more autonomous,and more productive lives, through utilizing society 's knowledge,resources,and technological innovations". However, this is not always an easy task. The NOHS preamble states “Characterized particularly by an appreciation of human beings in all of their diversity, human services offers assistance to its clients within the context of their community and environment. Human service professionals and educators uphold the integrity and ethics of the profession, partake in constructive criticism of the profession, promote client and community well-being, and enhance their own professional growth. “("Ethical standards for," 1996) However, as we look closely at this preamble we can see that it may cause it 's own ethical dilemmas especially in the field of addiction. What choices does a addictive professional make when the community and environment that the client lives in is filled with drugs,violence, and crime. It is not unlikely, for an addict to seek help,having no support because family has lost all trust, being poor, vulnerable,and depressed. They may not see anyway out of an abusive relationship and may have even contemplated suicide. They may be a single parent or both partners are using with the child in the home. It is in these circumstances that they do not have the self determination to make the right decisions. While the client has the right to self determination, the counselor has a decision to make like suggesting hospitalization or if there is children living in the situation contacting D.S.S, which violates the clients confidentiality. According to W.D.
Human Service Ethics
6/23/2013
My Chosen Ethical Framework
In the field of Human Services a worker is faced with ethical dilemmas on a everyday basis. In some cases,a client may want to make choices that may not be in their best interest. As Harry and Mahoney (1999) stated " the paramount goal of human service workers is to enable people to live more satisfying,more autonomous,and more productive lives, through utilizing society 's knowledge,resources,and technological innovations". However, this is not always an easy task. The NOHS preamble states “Characterized particularly by an appreciation of human beings in all of their diversity, human services offers assistance to its clients within the context of their community and environment. Human service professionals and educators uphold the integrity and ethics of the profession, partake in constructive criticism of the profession, promote client and community well-being, and enhance their own professional growth. “("Ethical standards for," 1996) However, as we look closely at this preamble we can see that it may cause it 's own ethical dilemmas especially in the field of addiction. What choices does a addictive professional make when the community and environment that the client lives in is filled with drugs,violence, and crime. It is not unlikely, for an addict to seek help,having no support because family has lost all trust, being poor, vulnerable,and depressed. They may not see anyway out of an abusive relationship and may have even contemplated suicide. They may be a single parent or both partners are using with the child in the home. It is in these circumstances that they do not have the self determination to make the right decisions. While the client has the right to self determination, the counselor has a decision to make like suggesting hospitalization or if there is children living in the situation contacting D.S.S, which violates the clients confidentiality. According to W.D.
References: Harris,H.S. & Maloney D.C. (1999)Human Services & Contemporary Issues & trends. Massachussetts. Alleyn and Bacon NAADAC - The Association for Addiction Professionals, (2011). Naadac code of ethics. Retrieved from NAADAC website: http://www.naadac.org/resources/codeofethics National Organization for Human Services, (1996). Ethical standards for human service professionals. Retrieved from National Organization for Human Services website: http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals Reamer, F. (2006). Social work values and ethics. NEW York Chichester,West Sussex: Columbia University Press. DOI: www.cup.columbia.edu