Social Work Ethical Dilemma
By
Sylvia Fernandez, Velma Perez
& Aura Majdanik
Isabel, a 14 year old Mexican American girl, pays a visit to her school’s social worker.
The reason for her visit is to have some information regarding the physical changes she is experiencing as an adolescent, dating, and sex.
Isabel tells the social worker she does not know anything about these topics and unfortunately, her parents do not want to talk about it. She also mentions she has a new boyfriend and her parents do not know about their relationship. Finally, Isabel tells the social worker that if she cannot get this information from her parents or school, she is going to have to rely on her friends for answers.
Isabel asks the social worker to help her without telling her parents. However, the social worker, who believes teenagers should have all the tools regarding sexual behaviors, finds herself in an ethical dilemma as Isabel’s parents did not want to sign the sex education parental consent form allowing Isabel to receive sex education at school.
The social worker tells Isabel there is nothing she can do without having her parents’ consent. Isabel tells the social worker she feels terribly embarrassed and she knows her parents will be mad at her.
Isabel school's Zip-code 78207
If you were the social worker, what would you do?
Social Worker’s Ethical Responsibilities to Clients
- Self-determination
- Privacy and Confidentiality
- Conflict of Interest
- Commitment to Clients
- Sexual Relationships
- Cultural Competence and Social Diversity
Isabel's Family Context
Core Values
Acronym (SSD-IIC)
- Service
- Social justice
- Dignity and worth of the person
- Importance of human relationships
- Integrity
- Competence
What do we know about STDs among Bexar County Youth?
What is an Ethical Dilemma?
Ethical dilemmas, also known as a moral dilemmas, are situations in which there is a choice to be made between two options, neither of which resolves the situation in an ethically acceptable fashion.
Yourdictionary.com
Snapple Apple Fact: 002
(Martinez & Aguilar, 2012)
References
(Martinez & Aguilar, 2012)
Ethical Dilemma Examples. (n.d.). Retrieved October 3rd,
2013, from http://examples.yourdictionary.com/
ethical-dilemma-examples.html
Kirst-Ashman, K. & Hull, G. (2012).
Understanding generalist practice (6th
ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing.
Martinez, M. & Aguilar, G. ( 2012) 2010-2012 Bexar County
Teen Pregnancy Report. San Antonio: Metro Health
NASW (2001). NASW standards for cultural competence
in social work practice. NASW Press.
What do we know about Bexar County Youth Sexual Behavior?
(Martinez & Aguilar, 2012)
What do we know?
Snapple Apple Fact: 001
(Martinez & Aguilar, 2012)
Did you know that in 2016 134 kindergarten classes will be filled with children of teen parents?
(Martinez & Aguilar, 2012)
- Isabel is 14 years old & Mexican American
- Isabel is experiencing physical changes
- Since Isabel is in a relationship, she is interested in learning about dating and sex
- Isabel parents do not consent for her to have sex education at school
- Isabel is embarrassed and fears her parents will be mad at her
- Isabel might end up receiving the wrong information
(Martinez & Aguilar, 2012)
Case Study
(Martinez & Aguilar, 2012)