Questions:

Introduction

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.

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?

Use of standard English grammar and sentence structure. No spelling errors or typographical errors.

Paper:

Social work professional values and ethics are the foundation of social work practice.The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics sets forth these values, principles, and standards to guide social workers' conduct¹.

The NASW Code of Ethics is based on six core values: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence¹.These values inform social work practice and help social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients¹.

The NASW Code of Ethics also includes ethical principles that provide guidance for social workers in their practice.These principles include informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, cultural competence, and ethical decision-making¹.

The 9-step Ethical Decision-Making Model outlined in Hepworth et al. (2017) is a model that can be used to guide ethical decision-making in social work practice.The model includes nine steps: identify the problem, apply the NASW Code of Ethics, determine the nature and dimensions of the dilemma, generate potential courses of action, consider the potential consequences of all options and determine a course of action, evaluate the selected course of action, implement the course of action, monitor and evaluate the course of action.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics is a set of standards that guide the professional conduct of social workers¹.The Code of Ethics offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide decision-making and everyday professional conduct of social workers¹.

The NASW Code of Ethics provides a framework for social workers to identify ethical dilemmas and make informed decisions. The following steps can be used to apply the NASW Code of Ethics:

1. Identify the problem: Identify the ethical dilemma or problem that needs to be addressed.
2. Apply the NASW Code of Ethics: Review the relevant sections of the NASW Code of Ethics that apply to the situation.
3. Determine the nature and dimensions of the dilemma: Analyze the situation to determine the nature and dimensions of the ethical dilemma.
4. Generate potential courses of action: Brainstorm potential courses of a

action: Brainstorm potential courses of action that could be taken to address the ethical dilemma.

1. Consider the potential consequences of all options and determine a course of action: Evaluate each potential course of action by considering its potential consequences and determine which course of action is most appropriate.
2. Evaluate the selected course of action: After selecting a course of action, evaluate its effectiveness in addressing the ethical dilemma.
3. Implement the course of action: Implement the selected course of action.
4. Monitor and evaluate the course of action: Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the selected course of action over time.

These steps provide a structured approach for social workers to identify ethical dilemmas, analyze them, and make informed decisions based on their professional values and ethics.

1. Recognize that an ethical issue exists: Identify the situation as an ethical issue or dilemma.
2. Get the facts: Gather all relevant information about the situation.
3. Evaluate alternative actions: Consider all possible courses of action and their potential consequences.
4. Make a decision and test it: Choose the best course of action and test it against your values and ethical principles.
5. Act and reflect on the outcome: Implement your decision and evaluate its effectiveness.

If you're looking for information on how to address an ethical dilemma, the following steps can be used to apply the NASW Code of Ethics:

1. Identify the problem: Identify the ethical dilemma or problem that needs to be addressed.
2. Apply the NASW Code of Ethics: Review the relevant sections of the NASW Code of Ethics that apply to the situation.
3. Determine the nature and dimensions of the dilemma: Analyze the situation to determine the nature and dimensions of the ethical dilemma.
4. Generate potential courses of action: Brainstorm potential courses of action that could be taken to address the ethical dilemma.
5. Consider the potential consequences of all options and determine a course of action: Evaluate each potential course of action by considering its potential consequences and determine which course of action is most appropriate.
6. Evaluate the selected course of action: After selecting a course of action, evaluate its effectiveness in addressing the ethical dilemma.
7. Implement the course of action: Implement the selected course of action.
8. Monitor and evaluate the course of action: Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the selected course of action over time.
9. Course of Action 1: Consult with a supervisor or colleague to discuss the ethical dilemma and potential courses of action. This could help you gain a different perspective on the situation and identify additional options. However, it could also lead to delays in addressing the ethical dilemma and may not result in a satisfactory resolution.
10. Course of Action 2: Consult with the relevant state laws by statute to determine if there are any legal requirements or restrictions that apply to the situation. This could help you identify additional options for addressing the ethical dilemma and ensure compliance with legal requirements. However, it could also be time-consuming and may not result in a satisfactory resolution.

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.

It's important to remember that seeking guidance from others does not absolve you of your professional responsibility to address the ethical dilemma. Ultimately, you are responsible for making informed decisions based on your professional values and ethics .

When choosing a course of action to address an ethical dilemma, it's important to consider the potential consequences of each option and evaluate them against your professional values and ethics. Once you've selected a course of action, you should implement it and monitor its effectiveness over time.

When evaluating the effectiveness of a particular course of action, you should consider whether it has resolved the ethical dilemma and whether it has been implemented in a way that is consistent with your professional values and ethics. You should also consider whether there have been any unintended consequences or negative outcomes as a result of the course of action.

It's important to be specific when describing the rationale for choosing, implementing, and evaluating a particular course of action. This can help ensure that your decision-making process is transparent and that others understand the reasoning behind your actions. When describing your rationale, you should be clear about the ethical principles and values that guided your decision-making process and how they were applied to the specific situation you were facing.

In summary, when addressing an ethical dilemma, it's important to carefully consider potential courses of action, choose the best option based on your professional values and ethics, implement it effectively, and evaluate its effectiveness over time. Being specific about your rationale can help ensure that your decision-making process is transparent and that others understand the reasoning behind your actions.

Here is how the 9-step Ethical Decision-Making Model can be applied to the case study:

Step 1: 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 center staff should seek guidance from their supervisor, colleagues, and legal experts to ensure that they are acting ethically and within their professional scope of practice.

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.

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

1. 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.
2. Healthcare: Social workers who work in healthcare may encounter ethical dilemmas related to end-of-life care, medical decision-making, and patient confidentiality.
3. Mental health: Social workers who work in mental health may encounter ethical dilemmas related to involuntary commitment, confidentiality, and dual relationships.
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.

The 9-step Ethical Decision-Making Model provides a structured approach for social workers to identify ethical dilemmas, analyze them, and make informed decisions based on their professional values and ethics. However, it is important to recognize that the model has its strengths and limitations. The model can help social workers identify ethical issues and make informed decisions based on their professional values and ethics. However, 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