Ethics

One of my recent classes was on “Ethics and Social Policy in Human Services”. The second half of this course was focused on ethical decision-making in human services, using case studies to identify the ethical principles and implications revealed in each. In one specific case study presented for discussion, Ann is a licensed social worker at a non-profit human service agency whose primary duties include counselling individuals and small groups. Ann has a client, Jasmine, who attends therapeutic group sessions twice weekly with Ann because her two year old daughter had been placed in foster care due to maltreatment and “failure to thrive”. These sessions are court ordered by the local child protective service agency in order to regain custody of children. Jasmine confided to her case worker (not Ann) that she is positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV positive), and someone informed Mary, the executive director of the agency. Mary becomes angry and asks Ann to speak privately with Jasmine to persuade her to tell the other clients in her therapy group that she is HIV positive. Jasmine is also a Type II diabetic, and uses a glucometer in the bathroom at the agency during breaks. Mary feels Jasmine is putting the staff and clients at risk by pricking her finger to test her glucose level. Mary, who is not a trained counselor or social worker, also thinks it would be therapeutic for Jasmine and the other clients if Jasmine shared her HIV status (Herlihy & Corey, 2006).
There are several ethical issues involved in this case study. A primary issue is around the confidentiality of Jasmine’s private health information, and whether Ann is obligated to protect Jasmine’s right to privacy and confidentiality, or if her obligation ...

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... has with Jasmine may be impeded if Ann discloses her HIV positive status to the group. She must also recognize that the right to privacy and confidentiality is a basic human right, which she must balance with her moral obligation to her other clients and co-workers.
In considering all of the ethical principles, guidelines, laws and regulations, it seem reasonable that Ann determines that there is no active threat to the group clients or staff from Jasmine’s HIV status, and that there is no imminent danger. Ann determines that the best course of action is to ask Jasmine to discontinue testing her glucose level at the agency, explaining to her that it would help ensure that there were no concerns raised related to Jasmine’s HIV status. By doing this, she can protect Jasmine’s human right to privacy and confidentiality while still considering the safety of others.