PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND VALUES IN HUMAN SERVICES

DR. SA’ODAH BINTI AHMADJABATAN PEMBANGUNAN MANUSIA DAN

PENGAJIAN KELUARGA, FEM

INTRODUCTION

What is Values?

What is Morals?

What is Ethics?

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

REFLECTION...

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

INTRODUCTION

All professional organizations, representing licensed and unlicensed staff, have established ethics codes.

They are public statements that set clear expectations. They guide practice and uphold the key values of that profession or discipline.

(Mohr & Nunno, 2007)

They are broad and general… not “cookbooks” for responsible behavior.

(Corey, Corey, & Callahan, 2003)

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

ETHICS A set of moral principles or values; principles

of conduct governing an individual or a group (as in ‘professional ethics’), and a guiding philosophy. (Merriam-Webster, 1993)

Ethical principles form moral choices as persons act as moral agents.

Ethical standards are based on a foundational value system designed to tell us the difference between good and bad behavior. – Another more basic way of putting it is

that ethical standards and principles tell us what we ought to do in any given situation.

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

MORALS/MORALITYMorals encompasses the individual’s evaluation of what is right and wrong. Morality implies a sense of obligation toward standards share by a social collective.Morality includes a concern for the welfare of others.Morality includes a sense of responsibility for acting on one’s concern for others.Morality includes a concern for the rights of others.Morality includes a commitment to honesty as norm.Breach of morality provokes perturbing judgmental and emotional responses.

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

MORAL RELATIVISM Absolutism vs. Relativism Consider context when evaluating

“rightness” and “wrongness” of behavior:CultureGeneration (i.e., age)Personal value system

Consider effect of emotional desires on ethical and moral behavior.What happens when there is a tug-of-

war between ethical standards and emotional desires or feelings?

Competing values.What do we do when our values

collide?SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL REASONING

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development (1976) Based on Piaget’s Cognitive Development

Theory. Cognitive-developmental approaches to

moral development. People go through stages in development

of their ability to reason morally. 6 stages of moral development –

associated with changes in the individual’s intellectual development - morality is considered to change through personal development.

Moral reasoning is significantly linked with age, IQ, education and SES (Colby et al, 1983).SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

The stages of moral reasoning are similar for all persons regardless culture.

Progress from one stage to another. Changing from stage to stage is gradual. Some individuals move more rapidly than

others through the sequence of stages. Although the particular stage of moral

reasoning is not the only factor affecting people’s moral conduct, the way they reason does influence how they actually behave in a moral situation.

Experience that provide opportunities for role taking foster progress through the stages.

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

CONTINUE...KOHLBERG’S FINDINGS

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Professional ethics are at the core of social work. The profession has an obligation to articulate its basic values, ethical principles, and ethical standards.

Codes are meant to assist the staff person in making decisions, in other words to guide “professional judgments” regarding their practice.

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

CONTINUE Ethical Standards of Human Service

Professionals includes all staff who work in human service settings, including those who are unlicensed.

Unlicensed/non-certified staff generally include Bachelor level prepared staff who work in social work or rehab positions, case managers, and mental health technicians.

However, all staff practices are important.

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

CONTINUE Ethical codes are not legal documents

but they are a component of the expected standard of care.

They are often used to assisting legal decisions related to human service worker behavior.

They help guide treatment decision making and protect against future harm or difficulty.

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

PURPOSE OF ETHICS CODES To safeguard the welfare of clients by

providing what is in their best interests.

1. To educate professionals about sound ethical conduct.

2. To provide a way to assure professional accountability.

3. To serve to improve practices.

(Corey, Corey, & Callahan, 2003) Meant to protect vulnerable individuals from

incompetent or dangerous people who are in powerful positions and who can cause harm.

(Mohr & Nunno, 2007)

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

HUMAN SERVICES PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

Responsibilities to clients. Responsibilities to society. Responsibilities to colleagues. Responsibilities to the Profession. Responsibilities to employer and self.

(Codes of Ethics, 2004)

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN ETHICS

Integrity Objectivity Professional Confidence Confidentiality Professional Behavior Technical Standards

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

NASW ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

1. CORE VALUE: Service ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: to help people in

need and to address social problems.2. CORE VALUE: Social Injustice ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: challenge social

injustice.3. CORE VALUE: Dignity and worth of all

person. ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: respect the

inherent dignity and worth of the person.

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

NASW ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

4. CORE VALUE: Importance of human relationship.

ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: recognize the central importance of human relationship.

5. CORE VALUE: Integrity ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: behaves in

trustworthy manner.6. CORE VALUE: Competence ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: practice within their

areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise.

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

ETHICAL DILEMMA Absolutism vs. Relativism Consider context when evaluating

“rightness” and “wrongness” of behavior: Culture Generation (i.e., age) Personal value system

Consider effect of emotional desires on ethical and moral behavior. What happens when there is a tug-of-war

between ethical standards and emotional desires or feelings?

Competing values. What do we do when our values collide?

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

ETHICAL DILEMMAS – WHAT YOU DO IN THOSE STICKY SITUATIONS?

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

ETHICAL DILEMMAS – WHICH ONE?

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

HOW DO YOU DECIDE? WHOSE JUDGMENT IS RIGHT?

ETHICAL DILLEMAS – THE APPROACHES

There are two major approaches that philosophers use in handling ethical dilemmas:

One is to focus on the practical consequences of what we do.

The other focuses on the actions themselves and weighs the rightness of the action alone.

The first school of thought argues that if there is no harm, there is no foul.

The second claims that some actions are simply wrong in and of themselves.

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

HOW TO RESOLVE? Kitchener’s Model (1994): four

assumptions that need to be at the heart of any ethical evaluation.

BeneficenceAutonomy JusticeNon-malfeasance

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

KITCHENER’S MODEL Beneficence: our human duty to assist

another in need and to facilitate a good outcome. It speaks to preventing harm to another person.

Autonomy: the right to liberty without interference; the right to make personal decisions and act on them without being coerced or manipulated.

Justice: giving others their due, assuring fairness, equal distribution of resources, and appropriately providing what is owed to a person in any circumstance.

Non-malfeasance: to do no harm, prevent harm, remove harm and facilitate good. Do not kill, do not cause pain, do not cause offense, do not deprive others .

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

STEPS IN SOLVING ETHICAL DILLEMAS

Recognize the Ethical Issue Get the Facts

Relevant FactsIndividuals and groups with an

important stake in decisionWhat are the options for acting?

Evaluate Alternative Actions Make a Decision and Test It Act and Reflect the Outcomes

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON THE PERCEPTION OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR

Model of ethical decision making that stresses the importance of being culturally sensitive. (Garcia Cartwright, Winston and Borzuchowska, 2003).

Challenged the notion that all cultures value autonomy equally as many cultures operate on a very interdependent basis.

Cautioned that what one culture considers abnormal, another culture considers perfectly normal.

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM

ETHICAL STANDARDS IN HUMAN SERVICES AND OTHER RELATED FIELD• National Organization for Human

Services: Ethical Standards• National Association of Social

Workers (NASW): Code of Ethics• American Counseling Association

(ACA): Code of Ethic

SA’ODAH AHMAD G0521898

REFLECTION...

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) Say’s: “You cannot treat people by means of your wealth; hence, you should treat them by means of your moral conduct.”

REFLECTION...

Always do right –

this will gratify some

and astonish the rest .

(Mark Twain, 190I)

When I do good, I feel good,

When I do bad I feel bad,

That’s my religion. (Abraham Lincoln)

SA’ODAH BINTI AHMAD, JPMPK, FEM