Reference no: EM133303302
Assignment:
This discussion aligns with Learning Outcome 5.
Ethical standards are an essential characteristic of the professions. In some cases, helpers and counselors face ethical dilemmas, in which two or more ethical values conflict. In such cases, helper and counselors must reflect on ethical standards and apply an ethical model of decision-making.
Consider the following situation:
Mary, a licensed social worker, has been seeing Andrea for more than six months. Andrea is going through a complicated divorce and has been very depressed because she did not want her marriage to end. Andrea has repeatedly told Mary that the "divorce would be unbearable if it were not for Mary's friendship." Andrea has asked Mary to "come over for dinner" several times. Mary has always thanked Andrea for thinking of her but has declined.
Last week, Mary posted some pictures of the last convention she attended on social media and at that time realized that she had accidentally accepted a friend request from Andrea because Andrea had used her maiden name rather than her married name in her friend request. Mary realized that Andrea had seen pictures of her family, her home, and had read many of her family-related posts, including information about Mary's son, Caleb, who has been applying to medical school. Andrea had messaged Mary on social media and told her "not to worry about Caleb's applications, and that something would work out." Mary did not respond. A few days later, Andrea called Mary and left a message on voice mail telling Mary one of her best friends was on the admissions committee of the medical school to which Caleb had applied and that she, Andrea, had "put in a good word" for Caleb. Again, Mary did not respond. That same day, Caleb got an acceptance letter from that same medical school. Andrea called again and left another message for Mary, in which she claimed that she was responsible for Caleb's admission.
Use the assigned readings and resources to identify and discuss the ethical challenges in this situation. Should Mary "unfriend" Andrea on social media? If so, why? Has Mary handled the dinner invitations appropriately? If so, why? What, if anything, should she do about Caleb's medical school admission? Explain your reasoning.