ETHICAL DILEMMAS

Flay J. Lee, LCAS,CCS

Vice President, Clinical Services

Hope Haven, Inc.

Agenda (Segment One)

Welcome & Introduction

Meditation Reading

G2G Ice Breaker

Ethical Principles of Conduct

Ethical Principles (NCSAPPB)

Ethical issues in the S.A. Field

Assumptions

Review of Ethical Values

Code of Professional Practice

CRITICAL INCIDENTS

Ethical Issues in Substance Abuse

prevention and Treatment, 1993

William L. White

Ethical Issues in the Prevention and

Treatment of Addiction, 2001

William L. White and Renee M. Popovits

What does Ethics mean?

A set of principles of right

conduct. The philosophical study

of moral value of human conduct

and the rules and principles that

govern

Ethical Principles of Conduct

The ethical guidelines governing the Substance Abuse

Professional are established to insure that the highest

standards are followed for the professional practice in the

alcohol and other drug abuse service delivery system.

The primary goal is to set forth principles to guide the

conduct of the professional in this profession. Violations

may deem malpractice, gross negligence, incompetence, or

engaging in conduct that could result in harm or injury to

the public.

What is an ethical dilemma?

An ethical dilemma is a situation that

presents a conflict between socially accepted

principles of what is right and wrong and the

consequences of actions.

Moral

Professional

Business

Ethical Principles

Non-discrimination

Competence

Legal and Ethical Standards

Public Statements

Publication Credit

Client Welfare

Confidentiality

Client Relationships

Interprofessional Relationships

Remuneration

Responsibility of Supervisor to Supervisee

Ethical Issues in the S.A. Field

The Composition of the Field

The Short History and Transience of the field.

The Industrialization of the Field

The Changing context of Substance Abuse

Assumptions

Workers bring with them personal standards of

morality and ethical conduct that can be relied

upon to assure the ethical conduct of the

agency.

Workers have common sense.

Workers have been trained in ethical issues and

ethical standards as part of their academic and

professional training.

Assumptions (Cont.)

There is no need for agency to concern itself with

ethical standards development because workers are

bound by ethical codes tied to their professional

certification/licensure.

Ethical dilemmas are concerns for those staff in

counseling roles.

Ethical dilemmas are personal/professional issues,

not an institutional roles.

Assumptions (Cont.)

Workers who violate ethical principles are bad

people. If we hire and retain good people, we will be

assured of ethical conduct. Persons who violate

ethical principles should be extruded from the

profession.

A high caliber of professional and ethical conduct is

assured because of the values and skills of our

supervisors who place great emphasis in this area.

If workers get in trouble, they will ask for help. If we

as managers don’t hear about ethical conflicts, there

must not be any!

Knowledge & Skills

Answer Yes or No to the following questions

Are education, experience and certification/licensure requirements

for positions within the agency set at such a level as to increase the

likelihood that staff have prior knowledge and skills in ethical

decision making?

Are there opportunities for staff at all levels to explore ethical issues

with other professionals within and outside of the agency?

Does the agency have access to outside technical expertise for

consultation on complex ethical legal issues?

Ethical Standards

Answer Yes or No to the following questions

Does the agency have a code of professional ethics integrated within its P & P?

Have staff had the opportunity to participate in the development or episodic review of the professional

practice standards?

Are violations of ethical conduct addressed immediately and consistently?

Organizational Culture

Answer Yes or No to the following questions

Are ethical issues raised within the context of employee hiring and new employee orientation?

Do organizational leaders talk about ethical issues in their communication with staff?

Is adherence to ethical and professional practice standards a component of the performance evaluations of all staff?

Is there an active EAP to address areas of personal impairment affecting judgment and conduct of staff?

Ethical Violations

Answer Yes or No to the following questions

Are the potential consequences of breaches of

ethical conduct clearly defined and communicated to

staff?

Are the procedures through which ethical violations

are addressed at the agency clearly defined and

communicated to staff?

Ethical Values Review

Autonomy (Enhance freedom of personal destiny)

Obedience (obey legal & ethically permissible directives)

Conscientious Refusal (Disobey illegal/unethical directives)

Beneficence (Help Others)

Gratitude (Pass good along to others)

Competence (Be knowledgeable and skilled)

Justice (Be fair, distribute by merit)

Stewardship (Use resources judiciously)

A Review of Ethical Values

Honesty and Condor (Tell the truth)

Fidelity (Do not break promises)

Loyalty (Do not abandon)

Diligence (Work hard)

Discretion (Respect confidentiality and privacy)

Self-improvement (Be the best that you can be)

Nonmaleficence (Do not hurt anyone)

Restitution (Make amends to persons injured)

Self-interest (Protect yourself)

The Relationship between

Ethics and Law

Ethical and Legal

Ethical and illegal, breaking an unjust law

Ethical and alegal, where no law applies

Unethical & legal, complying with an unjust law

Unethical & illegal, breaking a just law

Unethical & alegal, committing an unethical act that is not legally prohibited.

Thompson 1990

What is a Code of

Professional Practice (CPP)?

A Code of Professional Practice:

is an explicitly defined set of beliefs, values and

standards that guide organizational members in

the conduct of activities in pursuit of the

agency’s mission.

The code is a framework for day to day

decision making within a organization.

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Defines boundaries of Appropriate and inappropriate conduct.

Designed to protect the health and safety of, and promote the quality of services provided to, service consumers.

Enhances public safety.

Protects the integrity and reputation of the individual staff members and the agency.

Ethical Decision Making

Whose interests are involved and who can be harmed? Or who are the potential winners and losers?

What universal and/or cultural values apply to this situation ? What course of action would be suggested by these values and which of these values are in conflict in this situation?

What standards of law, professional propriety, organizational policy or historical practice apply to this situation?

BREAK

Segment two is next!!!