Reference no: EM133452602
Read the following case study and answer the questions.
Aaron is a counselor in a church agency. One of his clients, Matt, discloses to him that he participated in a burglary. Having disclosed this to the counselor, Matt becomes concerned about what will happen to the information he has shared. He asks Aaron whether he will inform the police. Aaron assures him that he will not tell the police or anyone else. Matt is still concerned and worries aloud about whether Aaron will write anything in his counseling notes about the illegal activity. Again, Aaron assures him that he will not. Matt queries him several times on this issue and eventually appears satisfied.
The agency is broken into, including Aaron's office and filing cabinet. The police have been summoned to investigate the burglary. At first, nothing appears to be missing, but a day later Aaron notices that Matt's file is gone. Susan, the agency director, asks Aaron if he has any idea who might have done this. Aaron believes it could be Matt, though he has no proof. Now Aaron must decide whether to tell Susan and the police about Matt, even though he had reassured Matt he wouldn't tell anyone about his prior history, or simply let the police do their job.
1. Should Aaron pass on the information to the director or to the police?
2. What are the ethical and legal ramifications of making assurances of confidentiality to Matt?
3. Should Aaron have gone to the police when Matt first told him about participating in a burglary? If so, what would have been the consequences?