Ethics in Social Work: A Context of Caring

Professional knowledge doesn't guarantee you'll make the right decisions when it comes to professional ethics Ethics in Social Work introduces students, practitioners, and educators to theoretical and conceptual approaches to professional ethics and to the practice-related aspects of dealing with ethical problems and dilemmas. This unique book equips social workers with the ability to choose among different perspectives on the place and value of ethics in their approach to clients, and to use, defend, and explain their choices to clients, colleagues, supervisors, administrators, the general public, and the courts, if necessary. The book examines classical ethics, theories, and codes of ethics, virtues and values, etiquette, professional responsibilities, distributive justice, judiciary relationships, professional misconduct, and malpractice. A working knowledge of ethics is essential for the development of a healthy and happy relationship between service providers and consumers. Ethics in Social Work looks at how ethical issues and conflicts can affect the daily lives of social work practitioners and how an increased sensitivity to those issues can help enrich their professional experience. The book addresses the basic concepts relating to ethics, as well as theories, principles, rules and values that guide service provision based on the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and Standards for Cultural Competence in social work practice. Ethics in Social Work examines: * the leading theories of ethics, including deontology and teleology * compromising or choosing between opposing values * professional etiquette in advertising and counseling * moral and professional responsibilities * the ethical dilemmas of telling the truth * social justice * practice-related aspects of distributive justice * fiduciary relationships * confidentiality in therapeutic work * resolving ethical dilemmas * the Hippocratic Oath and its relevance to social work * the Code of Ethics in social work * real-life cases of malpractice * and much moreEthics in Social Work includes case illustrations from existing literature and from professional experience, as well as an up-to-date bibliography. It is an essential read for anyone working, or preparing to work, in the helping professions.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Introduction What Is Ethics? Rationale for Writing This Book The Structure of This Book PART I: THEORETICAL AND PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES Chapter 1. Classical Ethics The Early Greek Tradition Stoic and Epicurean Approaches to Happiness and Ethics Ethics in the Works of Maimonides and Spinoza Early Greek and Jewish Perspectives on Ethics Christian and Buddhist Perspectives on Ethics The Ethics of the Dalai Lama The Ethics of Gandhi The Ethics of Martin Luther King Jr. Chapter 2. Theories of Ethics The Theological Approach The Intuitive or Hedonistic Approach The Deontological Approach of Immanuel Kant The Teleological Approach The Theory of Moral Commitment The Golden Rule Approach Situational Ethics Chapter 3. Virtues Virtues in Eastern Philosophy Virtues and Character in Social Work Cardinal Virtues Maimonides’s Approach to Virtues Virtues in Psychology and Philosophy The Virtues According to Comte-Sponville Chapter 4. Values Personal Values Religious Values in the Western World Caring Professionals’ Identification of Values Professional Values in Social Work Achieving Compromise Between Conflicting Values Case Example: A Request for Help Having an Abortion Chapter 5. Etiquette for Social Workers The Concept of Etiquette Hippocrates’ Medical Etiquette As Guide Ten Commandments of Medical Etiquette for Social Workers Etiquette and Advertisement Etiquette and Consultation Chapter 6. Good and Bad in Professional Responsibility Martin Buber’s Approach to Good and Bad Moral and Immoral Concepts of Good Case Example: The Student Who Failed to Show Up for Work Moral Responsibility Case Example: A Worker with a Drinking Problem Consultation with Colleagues Chapter 7. Social Justice Justice and Charity in Jewish Tradition Maimonides’s Approach to Charity Social Work and Distribution of Resources Case Example: Distribution of Money for New Immigrants Rawls’s Theory of Social Justice PART II: APPLIED ASPECTS OF THERAPEUTIC WORK Chapter 8. Social Welfare and Distributive Justice Distributive Justice Case Example: Allocation of Limited Resources Case Example: The Man Who Chose to Travel the World Case Example: The Expensive Patient Case Example: Four Different Kidney Patient Situations Blasszauer’s Decision-Making Criteria Chapter 9. Trust in Client-Social Worker Relationships Fiduciary Relationships in Social Work Case example: The Resident Who Wanted to Keep His Affair Secret Case example: The Parents Who Refuse to Accept the Doctors’ Advice Fiduciary Relationships in Other Caring Professions Case Example: The Woman Who Refused an Operation Chapter 10. Ethical Dilemmas Ethical Dilemmas in Social Work Case Example: The Suicidal Client Case Example: A Request to Keep a Medical Diagnosis Secret Case Example: The Girl Who Asked for Advice Regarding Abortion Case Example: Whether to Give Financial Support Beyond the Time Allocated Chapter 11. Resolution of Ethical Dilemmas Termination of Treatment: Principles of Intervention Ethical Dilemmas and Decision Making Basic Ethical Principles Phases in the Analysis of Ethical Dilemmas and Decision Making Ethical Decision Making in S

About the Author :
David Guttmann