Students are expected to identify the relationship between ethical standards/codes and professional responsibility. Students are required to respond to the following components.
Ethical Dilemma Paper Case Study, Institutional Conflict:
Dr. Solomon, a licensed professional counselor on an inpatient psychiatric treatment team, is concerned about the pending discharge of a current inpatient client. The client admitted herself to the unit, with some persuasion by the local police, for making loud threats and menacing gestures in her neighbor’s driveway. Hence, the admission is voluntary.
Currently, the client is denying the fact that she has made past threats toward her neighbor. However, the police report indicated she has made such verbal threats in the past but also, on several occasions, has damaged her neighbor’s property including scratching the paint on his car and throwing rocks at the house. Rumors indicate she allegedly killed her neighbor’s dog, but this has been unproven by the police.
During some individual time, the client indicated to the licensed professional counselor that she has “had it” with her neighbor and has “something planned that will make you all finally understand” once she is discharged.
While the treatment team does not share Dr. Solomon’s concern and has started to make discharge plans, they have not spent as much individual time with the client as Dr. Solomon. In fact, the client has made no such comments to anyone else other than to Dr. Solomon and has been a model client on the unit. The days allocated for her stay by her insurance are ending in two days; and therefore, they want her to also leave for this reason. The attending psychiatrist concurs with the discharge plan and advised Dr. Solomon “not to worry about it.” In fact, the psychiatrist encouraged Dr. Solomon to omit any reference to the patient’s comments about the neighbor in treatment summaries or clinical notes as “hysterical nonsense.”
1. In your own words, identify the nature of the case study scenario, particularly the role of the counselor.
(Section II:1C)
2. Explain why or why not this case study scenario requires an emergency response (refer to the appropriate ethical standard).
(Section II:1D)
3. Identify and explain the ethical standards that were violated in this case study scenario. Be specific and refer to examples in the case study scenario. (Section II:1D)
4. Which Ethical-Decision Making Process would you choose to demonstrate ethical violations occurred in this case study scenario?
(Section II:1I)
5. Identify and describe the steps involved in your chosen Ethical Decision-Making model.
(Section II:1I)
6. How can the counselor advocacy for ethical treatment for this client?
(Section II:1D)
7. Identify and describe the institutional and social barriers and mental health stigmas demonstrated toward the client in this case study scenario. (Section II:1E)
8. Describe the nature of confidentiality and limitations of confidentiality demonstrated or not demonstrated in this case study scenario.
(Section II:1I)
9. Would on-line therapy treatment be appropriate for working with this client in this case study scenario? Explain
(Section II:1J)
10. How can the role of supervision be helpful to the counselor in this case study scenario? In what ways could seek assistance from his supervisor?