Mr. Jenkins is an 81-year-old White male who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 7

years ago. He currently resides at home with his wife of 50 years and attends a daycare center for

older adults 5 days a week. Three months ago, his condition worsened, and he was diagnosed

with cancer one month ago. Mr. Jenkins' primary care provider informed the family and daycare

staff that Mr. Jenkins lacks the capacity to make informed medical decisions for himself. He also

cannot communicate his needs or carry out activities of daily living. The ethical dilemma in this

case study is whether the daycare center staff should honor the family's request to not provide

any life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions for Mr. Jenkins in case of a life-threatening

medical event.To offer a more lucid understanding of the use of the 9-step Ethical Decision-

Making Model.

The ethical dilemma in the Mr. Jenkins case study is whether the daycare center staff should honor the family's request to not provide any life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions for Mr. Jenkins in case of a life-threatening medical event. The competing issues in this case study include respecting Mr. Jenkins' autonomy and promoting his well-being, while also avoiding lawsuits and professional ethics violations. By following the 9-step Ethical Decision-Making Model, it was possible to identify the ethical dilemma, evaluate alternative actions, choose a course of action, implement it, evaluate its effectiveness, and seek guidance from legal experts and colleagues. By being specific about the ethical principles and values that guided the decision-making process, it was possible to ensure that the chosen course of action was consistent with professional values and ethics.

Recognize that an ethical issue existsThe ethical issue in this case study is whether the daycare center staff should honor the family's request to not provide any life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions for Mr. Jenkins in case of a life-threatening medical event.

Step 2: Get the factsMr. Jenkins is an 81-year-old White male who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 7 years ago. He currently resides at home with his wife of 50 years and attends a daycare center for older adults 5 days a week. Three months ago, his condition worsened, and he was diagnosed with cancer one month ago. Mr. Jenkins' primary care provider informed the family and daycare staff that Mr. Jenkins lacks the capacity to make informed medical decisions for himself. He also cannot communicate his needs or carry out activities of daily living. The daycare center staff asked for Mr. Jenkins' advanced health care directive, but it was confirmed that he did not have one.

Step 3: Evaluate alternative actionsThe following are two potential courses of action:

1. Course of Action 1: The daycare center staff could honor the family's request to not provide any life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions for Mr. Jenkins in case of a life-threatening medical event. This would respect Mr. Jenkins' autonomy and the family's wishes, but it could also expose the daycare center staff to lawsuits and professional ethics violations.
2. Course of Action 2: The daycare center staff could refuse to honor the family's request and provide life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions for Mr. Jenkins in case of a life-threatening medical event. This would ensure that Mr. Jenkins receives all necessary medical care, but it could also violate his autonomy and the family's wishes.

Step 4: Choose a course of actionBased on the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers should respect clients' right to self-determination and make efforts to promote clients' well-being . In this case study, Mr. Jenkins lacks the capacity to make informed medical decisions for himself, so his family members are making decisions on his behalf. The family has requested that no life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions be provided in case of a life-threatening medical event, which suggests that they are acting in Mr. Jenkins' best interests.

Therefore,Course of Action 1would be most appropriate in this situation since it respects Mr. Jenkins' autonomy and promotes his well-being.

Step 5: Implement the course of actionThe daycare center staff should inform Mr. Jenkins' family that they will honor their request to not provide any life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions for Mr. Jenkins in case of a life-threatening medical event.

Step 6: Evaluate the selected course of actionThe daycare center staff should monitor Mr. Jenkins' condition closely and evaluate whether their decision to not provide any life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions was effective in promoting his well-being.

Step 7: Act and reflect on the outcomeIf the selected course of action was effective in promoting Mr. Jenkins' well-being, then it should be continued in future situations where similar ethical dilemmas arise.

Step 8: Identify relevant state laws by statuteIt is important to consult with legal experts to determine if there are any relevant state laws by statute that apply to this situation.

Step 9: Seek guidance from supervisor, colleagues, and legal expertsThe daycare centerstaff should seek guidance from their supervisor, colleagues, and legal experts to ensure that they are acting ethically and within their professional scope of practice.

When identifying ethical principles and standards from the NASW Code of Ethics, it's important to be specific about which principles and standards are relevant to the situation at hand. For example, in the Mr. Jenkins case study, the principle of respect for clients' right to self-determination is relevant since Mr. Jenkins lacks the capacity to make informed medical decisions for himself. Additionally, the principle of social workers' ethical responsibility to clients is relevant since social workers have a professional obligation to promote their clients' well-being . By identifying these specific principles and standards, social workers can ensure that they are acting ethically and within their professional scope of practice.

social workers respect the individual's right to make independent decisions and to participate actively in the helping process.People have a right to freedom as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. Therefore, transactions with people who are seeking and utilizing resources should enhance their independence and self-determination. Too often in the past, social workers and other helping professionals focused on "deficit, disease, and dysfunction" (Cowger, 1992). The attention currently devoted by social workers to client empowerment and strengths means that social workers assist clients in increasing their personal potential and political power such that clients can improve their life situation (Krogsrud, Miley, O'Melia, & Dubois, 2013;Parsons, 2002; Saleebey, 2006).

These are just two potential courses of action, and there may be other options available depending on the specific ethical dilemma you are facing. It's important to carefully consider the potential consequences of each course of action before making a decision

If you're facing an ethical dilemma, it's important to seek guidance from your supervisor, colleagues, and legal experts. Here are some ways they can help:

1. Supervisor: Your supervisor can provide guidance on how to apply the NASW Code of Ethics to the specific situation you're facing. They can also help you identify potential courses of action and evaluate their effectiveness.
2. Colleagues: Your colleagues can provide a different perspective on the ethical dilemma and offer suggestions for addressing it. They may also have experience dealing with similar situations and can share their insights.
3. Legal experts: If the ethical dilemma involves legal issues, it may be helpful to consult with a legal expert. They can provide guidance on relevant state laws by statute and help you ensure compliance with legal requirements.

When choosing a course of action for the Mr. Jenkins case study, it was important to consider the ethical principles and values that guided the decision-making process. The NASW Code of Ethics emphasizes the importance of respecting clients' right to self-determination and making efforts to promote clients' well-being. In this case study, Mr. Jenkins lacked the capacity to make informed medical decisions for himself, so his family members were making decisions on his behalf. The family requested that no life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions be provided in case of a life-threatening medical event, which suggested that they were acting in Mr. Jenkins' best interests.

Therefore, the course of action that was chosen was to honor the family's request to not provide any life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions for Mr. Jenkins in case of a life-threatening medical event. This course of action respected Mr. Jenkins' autonomy and promoted his well-being.

To implement this course of action, the daycare center staff informed Mr. Jenkins' family that they would honor their request to not provide any life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions for Mr. Jenkins in case of a life-threatening medical event.

To evaluate the effectiveness of this course of action, the daycare center staff monitored Mr. Jenkins' condition closely and evaluated whether their decision to not provide any life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions was effective in promoting his well-being.

By being specific about the ethical principles and values that guided the decision-making process, it was possible to ensure that the chosen course of action was consistent with professional values and ethics.

Social workers may encounter ethical dilemmas in a variety of settings and situations. Here are some examples:

1. End-of-life care: Social workers who work in end-of-life care may encounter ethical dilemmas related to medical decision-making, patient autonomy, and quality of life.
2. Mental health: Social workers who work in mental health may encounter ethical dilemmas related to involuntary commitment, confidentiality, and dual relationships.
3. Child welfare: Social workers who work in child welfare may encounter ethical dilemmas related to child abuse and neglect, parental rights, and foster care placement.
4. Criminal justice: Social workers who work in criminal justice may encounter ethical dilemmas related to the rights of defendants, the use of force by law enforcement, and the treatment of prisoners.

By following the 9-step Ethical Decision-Making Model, social workers can identify ethical dilemmas, evaluate alternative actions, choose a course of action, implement it, evaluate its effectiveness, and seek guidance from legal experts and colleagues. By being specific about the ethical principles and values that guide their decision-making process, social workers can ensure that their chosen course of action is consistent with professional values and ethics.

The strengths of using an ethical decision-making model include providing a structured approach for identifying ethical dilemmas, analyzing them, and making informed decisions based on professional values and ethics. The model can help social workers identify ethical issues and make informed decisions based on their professional values and ethics. Additionally, the model can help ensure that social workers are acting ethically and within their professional scope of practice.

The limitations of using an ethical decision-making model include the fact that it does not provide a definitive answer to every ethical dilemma, and it may not be applicable in all situations. Additionally, the model requires social workers to have a strong understanding of the NASW Code of Ethics and relevant state laws by statute. Finally, the model may not account for all the complexities of a given situation, and social workers may need to use their professional judgment to make decisions in certain cases.

DIRECTIONS:

Succinctly describe the case study and dilemma in your own words.

Apply the 9-step Ethical Decision-Making Model to the case study. Organize the paper using headings for each step of the model. Be specific when identifying ethical principles and standards from the NASW Code of Ethics. Identify relevant state laws by statute. What guidance would you seek from your supervisor, colleagues, and legal experts? Identify at least two courses of action and the consequences for each action. Be specific when describing the rationale for choosing, implementing, and evaluating a particular course of action.

Ethical dilemma and competing issues identified. Ethical principles and standards from the NASW Code of Ethics are listed.

As a social worker, what situations or settings might you anticipate an ethical dilemma? What are the strengths and limitations of using an ethical decision-making model?

Identified at least 1 other setting(s) and/or situation(s) where social workers might anticipate an ethical dilemma. Excellent review of strengths and limitations of using an ethical decision-making model.