Importance Of Ethics In Professional Settings
Sample Solution
The ethical dilemma in the described scenario is whether or not Marybeth should break confidentiality by informing the client's parents or another mental health professional that the client is suicidal.
On the one hand, Marybeth has a duty to protect the client from harm. This includes preventing the client from committing suicide. On the other hand, Marybeth has a duty to maintain confidentiality. This means that she is not supposed to share the client's private information with anyone else without the client's consent.
Full Answer Section
There are two main methods of resolving this ethical dilemma:
- Duty to protect: Marybeth could break confidentiality and inform the client's parents or another mental health professional that the client is suicidal. This would allow the client to receive the help she needs to stay safe. However, breaking confidentiality is a serious ethical violation. It could damage the trust between Marybeth and the client, and it could also make the client less likely to seek help in the future.
- Duty to confidentiality: Marybeth could respect the client's confidentiality and not tell anyone about her suicidal thoughts. This would honor the client's trust and privacy. However, it would also put the client at risk of harming herself.
The ethical resolution process that Marybeth should take depends on her assessment of the client's risk of suicide. If Marybeth believes that the client is at imminent risk of suicide, she should break confidentiality and inform the client's parents or another mental health professional. However, if Marybeth believes that the client is not at imminent risk of suicide, she should respect the client's confidentiality and work with the client to develop a safety plan.
Rationale for each method:
Duty to protect:
The duty to protect is a fundamental principle of ethics in mental health practice. It is based on the idea that mental health professionals have a responsibility to prevent their clients from harming themselves or others.
In the described scenario, Marybeth has a duty to protect the client from suicide. If she believes that the client is at imminent risk of suicide, she should break confidentiality and inform the client's parents or another mental health professional. This would allow the client to receive the help she needs to stay safe.
Duty to confidentiality:
Confidentiality is another fundamental principle of ethics in mental health practice. It is based on the idea that clients have a right to privacy.
Confidentiality is important because it allows clients to feel safe and comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings with their therapist. If clients know that their therapist will keep their information confidential, they are more likely to be honest and open. This can lead to better outcomes in therapy.
In the described scenario, Marybeth has a duty to respect the client's confidentiality. If she believes that the client is not at imminent risk of suicide, she should respect the client's confidentiality and work with the client to develop a safety plan.
Ethical resolution process:
To make an ethical decision in this situation, Marybeth should consider the following factors:
- The client's level of risk of suicide.
- The client's wishes.
- The potential consequences of breaking confidentiality.
Marybeth should also consult with other mental health professionals to get their input.
If Marybeth decides to break confidentiality, she should do so in a way that is respectful of the client. She should explain to the client why she is breaking confidentiality and how she plans to do so. She should also get the client's consent to share her information with others.
Importance of ethical guidelines:
Ethical guidelines are important because they provide a framework for making ethical decisions. They help mental health professionals to consider all of the relevant factors when making a decision and to make decisions that are in the best interests of their clients.
In the described scenario, Marybeth can use ethical guidelines to help her decide whether or not to break confidentiality. For example, the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct states that psychologists have a duty to protect their clients from harm. However, it also states that psychologists should respect the confidentiality of their clients' information.
By considering the ethical guidelines, Marybeth can make an ethical decision that is in the best interests of her client.