Martin Ethics Paper 1

Megan Martin
Social Work in the Aging Population
Ethics Paper
March 22, 2013










Martin Ethics Paper 2

Abstract

This paper explores ethical considerations we all in the social work field must consider when
working with real people outside of a classroom setting. It begins by defining what ethics overall
means to social workers, and then elaborates within our National Association of Social Workers
(NASW) Code of Ethics on the various kinds of ethical practices we apply to our daily lives.
This paper presents a literary analytical review of research gathered on ethical decision making,
discrepancies in ethical decision-making, and rationales for courses of action chosen. Findings
within this literary review suggest that both professional and personal factors are related to
ethical decision-making and predict the degree to which ethical decisions are discrepant. The
paper ends with a summary of no matter what philosophical view, written code, or social policy a
social worker may use to assist in their decision making process, their final decision is their
responsibility.









Martin Ethics Paper 3

Many definitions of ethics exist. For the purpose of this paper, we will define ethics as
professional obligations and rules of conduct. We will also have to define moral judgment, a
choice made about right or wrong behavior (Barker, 1999). Other important concepts we
should consider for this paper include beliefs, which are ideas people hold about reality and
morality, along with values, defined as culturally defined standards by which people assess
desirability, goodness, and beauty, and which serve as broad guidelines for social living
(Macionis, 1997). (Meacham, 2007, v.4).
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics is considered by the
majority of social workers to be our professional standards in which we base our entire practice
on. This Code of Ethics provides social workers nationwide with regulations for whenever one
may need guidance in a questionable ethic related situation. Even if we were able to completely
believe in and follow social work guidelines under all circumstances and held them as part of our
personal morality and values, there still would be dilemmas (Meacham, 2007, v. 4). Simply
because a Code of Ethics is provided for the social workers does not mean this makes their job
any simpler. Granted, these ethical guidelines help immensely in particular situations with clients
or in a job placement, however there are other factors that are taken into consideration upon
making a decision in any given situation. A social workers personal and professional values
interacting with certain situations often times conflicts with the ethical guidelines we are to
meant to abide by within our profession.
Authors Otima Z. Doyle, Ph.D., Shari E. Miller, Ph.D., and Fatima Y. Mirza of article
Ethical Decision-Making in Social Work: Exploring Personal and Professional Values and
author Bruce D. Hartsell of article A Model for Ethical Decision-Making: The Context of Ethics
both agree on a general consensus of the
Martin Ethics Paper 4

Code of Ethics set of core values and the principles and standards developed on the basis
of those values are designed to inform ethical decision-making. However, the Code of
Ethics does not provide universal prescriptions for behavior, nor does it specify a
hierarchy of values, ethical principles, or standards. (NASW, 1999) (Doyle, Miller,
Mirza, 2009, v. 6)
Both of these articles portray through their works that the NASW Code of Ethics is a good
beginning of a guideline. However when a social worker is faced with a dilemma and they turn
to their Code of Ethics, the guidance they are looking for may not be there. If social workers are
unable to find their answers on how to handle a situation within the Code of Ethics, then they use
what Doyle, Miller, and Mirza refer to as our personal and professional values. These values
relate to what we believe to be morally sound.
Doyle, Miller, and Mirza also say that almost all issues faced by social workers are
based in ethical principals. (Dolgoff et al, 2005) (2009, v. 6) Developing awareness of and
being willing to recognize ethical dilemmas and their intricacy, are crucial steps toward gaining
the skills to manage the ethical dilemmas that may arise in practice. According to Michael Gary
Meacham, Ph.D., LCSW, DCSW, author of Ethics and Decision Making for Social Workers,
ethics involve into our profession, in that decisions we make regarding them affect our
professional demeanor, development, and licensing. On a broader scale, this involves
ethics, morality, and values. What we decide to do may be based in various philosophical
foundations, but in the end, we must live with the consequences (2007, v. 4).
This process of using the NASW Code of Ethics to judge and base our decisions from, it results
in a question proposed by Doyle, Miller, and Mirza: Do social workers base their decisions on
Martin Ethics Paper 5

the standards within the Code of Ethics, or are their decisions influenced by other factors?
(2009, v. 6).
The majority of social workers have a characteristic that do not allow us to accept
situations as they are when we find them. A share of our role as a social worker in research is to
describe the reality around us which is a large part of what helps us to work with real people
outside of a classroom setting. Nevertheless,
Ethics involve or encompass norms that are deemed to be universally beneficial to all.
They tend to set a standard by which all action can be judged. At an individual level,
ethics are value systems that enable individuals to apply a set of principles to their actions
and to work out their obligations to others (Powell, 2006) (Rangel, 2009, v. 6)
Just as Rangel states in this article ethics tend to set a standard by which all actions can be
judged. Social workers are well aware that our actions are noticed by others, and the way we act
can be judged on how our clients may think other social workers must act too. Because people
have tendencies to judge based on actions, we have the Code of Ethics, so that we as social
workers have standards in which we are expected to uphold and respect.
Two values from the NASW Code of Ethics are of upmost importance when dealing with
a real person outside of a classroom setting: dignity and worth of the person, and importance of
human relationships. Dignity and worth of the person is when we are to treat every individual in
a caring and respectful way, and we are to remain aware of particular differences along with
cultural and ethnic diversity. We work to promote clients socially responsible self-
determination; seek to enhance clients capacity and opportunity to change and to address their
own needs; recognize we hold a responsibility to not only the client but to society as well;
seek to resolve conflicts between clients interests and the broader societys interests in a
Martin Ethics Paper 6

socially responsible manner consistent with the values, ethical principles, and ethical standards
of the profession. (NASW Code of Ethics, 2008). Importance of human relationships can be
defined as we understand that relationships between and among people are an important
vehicle for change; engage people as partners in the helping process; seek to strengthen
relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the
wellbeing of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities (NASW Code
of Ethics, 2008). These two values from the Code of Ethics are the two most crucial when in
dealing with real person contact outside of a classroom experience.
This paper explored ethical considerations we all in the social work field must consider
when working with real people outside of a classroom setting. It began by defining what ethics
overall means to social workers, and then elaborated within our National Association of Social
Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics on the various kinds of ethical practices we apply to our daily
lives. However, the conclusion is that no matter what philosophical view, written code, or social
policy a social worker may use to assist in their decision making process, their final decision is
their personal individual responsibility.


Martin Ethics Paper 7

References:
1. National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of Ethics of the National
Association of Social Workers (2008.). Washington, DC: Delegate Assembly.
2. Moira Rangel. (2009). International and National Professional Social Work Codes of
Practice: Australia and Policy and Practice with Older People, The Journal of Social
Work Values and Ethics. Retrieved from:
http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/content/view/124/68/
3. Otima Z. Doyle, Shari E. Miller, Fatima Y. Mirza. (2009). Ethical Decision-Making in
Social Work: Exploring Personal and Professional Values, The Journal of Social Work
Values and Ethics. Retrieved from:
http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/content/view/113/67/
4. Michael Gary Meacham. (2007). Ethics and Decision Making for Social Workers, The
Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics. Retrieved from:
http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/content/view/70/54/
5. Heather Larkin. (2007). The Ethics of Social Work Practice in the Nursing Home Setting:
A Consultants Dilemma, The Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics. Retrieved from:
http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/content/view/67/54/
6. Bruce D. Hartsell. (2006). A Model for Ethical Decision-Making: The Context of Ethics,
The Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics. Retrieved from:
http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/content/view/26/44/