In this paper, I will examine a dilemma that presents a problem looked at by a caseworker at Owings Mills General Hospital. The situation rotates around a patient, Michael, who has, as of late, gone through exploratory surgery and has been determined to have terminal cancer. Michael’s daughter, Ellen, has asked the caseworker, Marcia, not to unveil this data to her dad as they accept he is sincerely delicate and cannot deal with the news. This presents a dilemma for Marcia as she should adjust the ethical principles of secrecy, trustworthiness, and independence while likewise considering the prosperity of the patient and his loved ones. In this paper, I will examine the possible effect of my choice, the competing values present in the predicament, and my initial gut reaction to the issue.
The Dilemma
A dilemma, as characterized by Merriam-Webster, is an ordinarily unwanted or horrendous decision (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). In this situation, the dilemma encountered by Marcia is whether to unveil his terminal finding Michael to him or to keep it secret, as recommended by his daughter, Ellen. On the one hand, Marcia must maintain the ethical principle of honesty and give honest data to the patient. Conversely, by unveiling the diagnosis, Marcia might be abusing the principle of confidentiality and gambling with the profound prosperity of the patient and his loved ones. This dilemma gives Marcia a hard choice as the two options have possible outcomes.
The Impact of the Dilemma
The expected effect of Marcia’s choice in this dilemma wouldn’t just influence the patient, Michael, but also his family, the attending physician, and the hospital. If Marcia chooses to keep the analysis from Michael, it could ease his family’s unrest and permit them to invest quality energy with him without the weight of realizing his life is soon to end. Nonetheless, this could likewise affect Michael’s privilege to self-assurance and independence as he wouldn’t be completely mindful of his ailment. This absence of data may keep him from settling on significant end-of-life choices and conceivably delay vital plans.
Also, on the off chance that the attending physician doesn’t know about the patient’s terminal diagnosis, it could influence the treatment plan and the nature of care given to Michael. This could likewise have legitimate implications for the hospital, assuming the family chooses to make a lawful move in the future because of the absence of exposure to significant medical data. Moreover, Marcia’s choice could likewise affect different patients and their families, as it could lay out a point of reference for keeping critical medical data from patients.
Competing Values
The competing values present in this dilemma are confidentiality and autonomy versus honesty and integrity. Marcia’s obligation to keep up with secrecy and regard the family’s solicitation not to reveal the diagnosis is upheld by the social work core value of respect for the dignity and worth of a person (NASW Code of Ethics, 2017). By keeping the data confidential, Marcia is recognizing the family’s social convictions and permitting them to pursue choices for their cherished ones. Then again, uncovering the analysis aligns with the value of honesty and integrity, as it maintains the ethical principle of giving honest data to clients (NASW Code of Ethics, 2017). This value underlines the significance of straightforwardness and confidence in the client-laborer relationship.
Moreover, the value of social justice applies to this dilemma. By keeping the diagnosis, Marcia is possibly denying Michael his right to self-assurance and admittance to significant data that would affect his life and future choices. In any case, regarding the family’s choice, Marcia is advancing the significance of human connections and exhibiting social capability by understanding and regarding their beliefs.
Initial Gut Solution
My initial gut reaction to this dilemma is to reveal the analysis to Michael. As a social worker, I trust in the ethical principles of honesty and integrity, esteem straightforwardness, and open correspondence in the client-worker relationship. My choice is likewise impacted by my encounters with losing a family member to cancer. I comprehend the benefit of having the potential chance to go with significant end-of-life choices and the significance of being utterly mindful of one’s ailment. Nonetheless, I understand the social convictions and values encompassing terminal sickness and end-of-life care, and I regard the family’s choice as assuming it was what Michael needed.
Conclusion
Ultimately, this situation presents a complex ethical dilemma for Marcia, which requires a cautious thought of different points of view. The choice she must make affects the patient, his family, the attending physician, and the hospital. By coordinating information from the textbook, the Bible, and the NASW Code of Ethics, I have examined the likely effect of my choice, the contending values present in the dilemma, and my initial gut reaction to the issue. This examination has permitted me to comprehend better the complexity of ethical decision-making in social work and the importance of self-awareness and cultural competence.
References
Note: **When formatting your reference page, remember to double-space references with the first line flush with the left margin and the subsequent lines indented. References should be listed in alphabetical order.
When you have a question about APA format, click the Writing Style Guides on the left-hand column of Canvas. It will take you to a link to Liberty’s Online Writing Center, which has many resources, including sample papers and the APA Quick Guide.
The following information is to help you with citing the Bible and textbook:
As a sample Bible citation, please see the following example for the NIV version of the Bible. Your in-text citations would be as follows: (New International Version, 1978/2011) or (New International Version, 1978/2011, John 3:16) depending on how you use it.
In the reference list, it would be as follows:
New International Version Bible. (2011). Zondervan. (Original work published 1978)
Or, if you accessed it online:
New International Version Bible. (2011). The NIV Bible. https://www.thenivbible.com/ (Original work published 1978)
As far as the textbook, here is the proper citation:
Bryan, V., Sanders, S., & Kaplan, L. (2016). The Helping Professional’s Guide to Ethics.
Oxford.
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