Ethical Decision Making in Counseling: Privacy vs Disclosure

Running Head: ETHICAL DECISION MAKING
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Ethical
Decision
Making
Student details:

ETHICAL DECISION MAKING 1
Word counts: 2010
Introduction:
Ethical decision-making is a complex process of assessing and evaluating a situation
in a rational manner with help of ethical principles. The implementing of the ethical decision-
making requires obligation. In dealing with a complex situation the practitioner needs to be
aware of all the details, including the dilemma of offering a good decision which will be
beneficiary for all members. This paper is analysing the dilemma in scenario 5 which is
keeping the client’s privacy by disclosing the reason of Tess’s death with her parents or not
by the school counsellor (Ivor). According to Collins and Knowles (1995), confidentiality is
relative rather than absolute particularly the case of minor receiving counselling at school
where third parties have access to information frequently. Additionally, this paper will
present the comprehensive decision-making process; followed by the ethical principles
competing between disclosure versus privacy and how Ivor will reach to the rational
decision- making to satisfy all members. Furthermore, this paper will analyse the social
worker’s ethical principles in terms of seeking the truth of Tess’s death and acknowledging
why she made a decisions the family to meet Ivor.
Privacy versus Disclosure:
In sensitive cases, all practitioners have to understand and follow their code of ethics
in terms of respecting the client’s privacy. In addition to this, practitioner has to keep the
patient’s record in a private document from the normal case notes. As well as practitioners, in
particular counsellors are required to prepare an arrangement for safety disposal of client’s
details particularly in counsellor’s incapacity or death (The ACA, 2019). However, school
counsellor usually disclosing the patient’s details with a third party includes the patient’s
parents and teachers. The privacy principle in scenario 5 is competing versus disclosure. The
disclosure principle is concept of sharing information in an exceptional circumstance such as
self- harm, suicide and harms others. Therefore, it is essential for the counsellor to breach the
client confidentiality with their consent and should discuss with supervisor before taking this
step (Collins & Knowles, 1995). However, in scenario 5 the situation is complicated, as the
client passed away. In scenario 5, the school counsellor (Ivor) has acted ethically as a
virtue’s counsellor in all the sessions conducted with Tess. The way he tried to support her
according to the culture differences and what is the best life for her (Clark & Drinka, 2007).
Inclusive model and process

ETHICAL DECISION MAKING 2
The important model, which is required to be followed by Ivor in scenario 5, is the
inclusive model (Chenoweth & McAuliffe, 2012). According to the complexity of the case,
Ivor needs to take in his accountability of the consequence of his decision when disclosing
the information regards Tess’s death. Firstly, Ivor is required to think of his ethical position
as a counsellor and he should pay respect to the patient’s right to keep their privacy even after
death. Thus, Ivor has to have his own assessment of when and to whom it is appropriate to
breach Tess’s confidentiality and her autonomy right. Secondly, Ivor needs to contemplate of
Tess’s mother who felt guilty and accused herself, as she is the main reason behind her
daughter’s death. She thought that because of her strict attitude and greater regards to culture
her daughter-committed suicide. Thus, it is possible that the feeling of guilt will led the
mother to a mental state where she will hurt herself. Additionally, the consequences of the
mother’s action might be published in media, which will be considered as a matter of shame
for the family as well as it might be impacting their refugee status. According to the Tess’s
letter, her grandfather had abused her sexually earlier. Hence, when Ivor will disclose these
details there are possibilities that the family conflict will take place. In another words “it
might cause a delinquency”. However, If Ivor would disclose some details he should take
care that other children should never witness the same what has been witnessed by Tess. He
should also console Tess’s mother and convey her that whatever happened was not because
of her. Additionally, Ivor needs to take in his accountability that the grandfather might have
kind of mental health issues which impacted on him negatively.
Along with this, Ivor need to consult the scenario with someone of higher position in
order to understand the situation in a better way (Chenoweth & McAuliffe, 2012). As a
school counsellor and teacher he needs to consult with the school principle to come out with
the decision. Thus, this decision will come from a teacher’s perspective in terms of the
breaching confidentiality if the situation is causing maltreatment. Furthermore, by engaging
in appropriate conversation with expertise might support all the process and give wide image
to reach wise decision. Moreover, Ivor had never been in this situation before so he has to
consult some expert in terms of his accountabilities. However, the appointment has already
been booked and Ivor is supposed to take an immediate decision. Thus, Ivor has to build his
decision rendering to Tess’s story. However, Ivor has to gather further cultural advice to be
able to prepare him and to draw appropriate questions to match the family’s culture views.
So, Ivor made a decision to meet them individually and to start with “Niri” the community
development worker who supported the family in their settlement journey and has experience
in of diverse cultures. Thirdly, the awareness of culture sensitivity to be able to appropriately