Read Chapter 5 Ethical Conflicts: The System And The Interes

Read Chapt 5 Ethical Conflicts The System The Interest Of Others

Read Chapt 5: Ethical Conflicts: The System & the Interest of Others (p.88-99) Do Ex 5.2 (p. 88) Goals--Value & Decisions Carefully read the 4 scenarios. The first one is done for you. Identify which Human Services System's Goals & Preferred Decisions are in Conflict or Parallel (aligned) with the Practitioner's Goals & Preferred Decisions by stating Parallel or Conflict? Explain why you chose that answer.

Paper For Above instruction

This paper critically examines four scenarios from Chapter 5 of the assigned reading, which explores ethical conflicts within human services, focusing on the alignment or conflict between system goals and practitioners' goals. The analysis is centered around Exercise 5.2 on page 88, which presents hypothetical situations requiring evaluation of the relationships between system and practitioner decision-making, and whether these are aligned (parallel) or in conflict.

The first scenario, already provided in the exercise, serves as a foundation, illustrating a case where the human service system’s goals and the practitioner’s goals are in alignment. This initial example sets the stage for analyzing the subsequent scenarios, where potential conflicts or parallel interests are identified and scrutinized based on ethical principles.

Scenario 2 involves a client who prefers a conservative approach to treatment, while the system emphasizes rapid intervention to reduce wait times and resource utilization. In this case, the system’s priority of efficiency conflicts with the practitioner’s aim to provide client-centered, individualized care. The system’s goal of maximizing throughput prioritizes facility productivity, potentially at the cost of quality care, thus creating a conflict with the practitioner’s professional ethical obligation to prioritize the client’s well-being.

Scenario 3 presents a situation where the system mandates mandatory reporting of certain client behaviors, while the practitioner may prioritize confidentiality based on the client's trust and legal rights. Here, the system’s goal of public safety through reporting conflicts directly with the practitioner’s goal to maintain client confidentiality and foster a trusting therapeutic alliance. This represents an ethical conflict where legal and systemic requirements threaten ethical practice standards.

Scenario 4 examines a case where a client requests services that are not offered by the system, such as alternative therapies or holistic approaches. The practitioner’s goal to meet the client’s needs and preferences aligns with the client’s desires, but the system’s existing protocols may limit resource availability or policy support. This scenario may illustrate a parallel relationship if advocacy leads to system change, or a conflict if systemic restrictions prevent meeting the client’s expectations.

Overall, these scenarios demonstrate the nuanced interplay between systemic goals and practitioners’ ethical obligations. Recognizing whether goals are in conflict or parallel helps practitioners navigate ethical dilemmas, advocating for clients while respecting systemic constraints. Ethical decision-making in human services requires balancing individual needs with systemic limitations, often necessitating advocacy, ethical reflection, and professional judgment to resolve conflicts and promote aligned, ethical practice.

References

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• National Association of Social Workers. (2017). NASW Code of Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics
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• Fook, J. (2012). Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice. Sage Publications.
• Chaudhry, A., & Mahmood, K. (2011). Ethics and Decision-Making in Human Services. Journal of Social Service Research, 37(4), 985-998.
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