Social Worker Ethical Dilemmas

As a social worker, personal values can and often times conflict with professional values. “Values are deeply held preferences or ideals to which a person aspires” (Barsky, 2010). Working with clients take a personal approach as well as professional. To care for the well being of an individual takes building a rapport and a relationship. Sometimes that may lead to value conflict. Often times, decisions must be made by considering values and how they may conflict. Commitment to clients, privacy and confidentiality, as well as conflict of interest all must be considered at some point when considering what is ethical in social work. In one case, the parents of a client who committed suicide requested that the social worker speak at the client’s

Stated in The National Association of Social Worker (NASW) Code of Ethics, “Social workers should respect clients’ right to privacy. Social workers should not solicit private information from clients unless it is essential to providing services or conducting social work evaluation or research” (NASW, “n. d.”). With that being said, would it be a disservice to the deceased client to deliver a eulogy at her funeral? In my opinion, I would want my social worker who I was close with speak at my funeral. I would have shown my true self to someone in the service of helping others. NASW also states, “Social workers may disclose confidential information when appropriate with valid consent from a client or a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of a client” (NASW, “n. d.”). A pre-written eulogy that is approved by the client’s parents may be appropriate. On a personal level, to speak at the client’s funeral would be a privilege and something I would do without thinking. I would want to preserve the dignity and worth of my client. Especially because of the cause of death. I would want to maintain integrity and show the value of my client. With the consideration of privacy and confidentiality, it would be wise to consider the other standards involved such as commitment to

My commitment to clients, the responsibility to promote the well-being of clients, allows me to move forward. So long as there is no legal reason as to why I cannot. Being that the parents requested for the deliverance of a eulogy, and they are authorized to give consent, I would not be breaking confidentiality by speaking at the funeral. In addition, I would uphold the integrity of the client. There should not be an issue of conflict of interest being that once again, I would have been asked to speak by the parents, and would only speak in the interest of my client. I would definitely seek consultation from a superior within my agency to confirm that there is no conflict of interest. After consulting, if there is no reason to hinder the action. I would elect to deliver the eulogy for the deceased client as requested by the family. “Social workers often face circumstances in which values come into conflict. By gaining a better understanding of your own system of values, including how you prioritize them, you will be better prepared for making tough choices in a deliberate, strategic manner” (Barsky, 2010). After a long assessment of ethics and values. I have decided it is indeed ethical to speak, at request of the family, to deliver a eulogy at the funeral of a deceased