Using the scenario below:
Dr. Goodfriend receives a call from Buddy, his very close high school friend. Dr. Goodfriend speaks with Buddy about once every six to nine months. During those calls, the conversations typically focus on careers, family members, and the whereabouts about other classmates.
Buddy phoned Dr. Goodfriend in an apparent emotional anguish by the tone of his voice. Buddy states that he has been feeling “stressed” over the last month. He explains that he recently lost his job and has been worrying about the financial impact that this is having on his family. Buddy adds that he has had trouble sleeping, has stopped exercising, has little energy, and fleeting thoughts of hurting himself. Buddy also shares that he has been short tempered with his wife and kids.
During the 90-minute call, Dr. Goodfriend tries to be a good listener, empathizes with Buddy’s difficult situation, offers advice on ways that Buddy can better manage his stress, provides him with general encouragement, and suggests a book that outlines stress management and anxiety reduction strategies.
At the end of the call, Buddy tells Dr. Goodfriend that he is feeling much better. Just as he is about to hang up, Buddy says, “Thanks. My wife told me that I should see a therapist but I told her that I could talk with you and that it would be much cheaper.”
Dr. Goodfriend is unclear whether Buddy is serious or joking.
Instructions
1. Discuss the history or genesis of the ethical dilemma and, if applicable, the values underlying the topic from the perspectives of society, the profession, religion, the agency, the client, and your own.
2. Present a case in which the social worker is in conflict with the family, agency, colleagues, group, or community over this ethical dilemma. Describe the specific conflict situation.
3. Present the ethical dilemma in one or two sentences.
4. Apply the Nonmaleficence model from Beauchamp and Childress
the model to your case. Begin with the background information.
a. Identify any value conflicts that may be present in the ethical dilemma. b. Identify ethical principles and theories as they pertain to the ethical dilemma. c. Identify possible courses of action and the benefits/costs and possible outcomes of each. d. Make the decision/resolution and explain how and why you arrived at that decision. e. Discuss how your personal values entered into the decision-making process.
5. Throughout the paper, cite at least 4-5 relevant sources from literature on the topic and on the value and ethical considerations.
Use the Theoretical approach (top down model) to justify the approach
● We begin with a general set of rules or principles, which taken together with the facts of the case, generate (through a process of deductive reasoning), a correct or justified judgment about the moral thing to do in this case.
● The theoretical approach is a form of universalism, so-called because the theories proposed are taken to apply universally – to all people, at all times ,in all circumstances. The moral principles central to such theories are taken to be universally true.
● The process of moral reasoning is that of ‘applying’ principles to cases.
A simplistic example would be:
Killing people is always morally wrong (moral principle) Fetuses are persons (fact) Therefore: Abortion is morally wrong (deductively justified conclusion)
● The top-down approach is generally found in normative moral theories that emphasize individualism and impartiality, such as Utilitarianism and Kantianism
6. Use APA style consistently. Proofread and use spell-check. Approximate length: 8-9 pages. Follow this outline accurately.
