This document provides four vignettes presenting potential ethical issues social workers may encounter in their practice: 1. A client reveals he hastened his mother's death out of compassion and has similar feelings about his father's condition, raising confidentiality and duty to report concerns. 2. A social worker realizes a new client is the ex-wife of a former client but the client is unaware, presenting a potential conflict of interest. 3. A social worker provided a positive reference for a client's boss without disclosing their personal relationship, and the boss now makes unwanted advances on the client. 4. A close friend requests therapy from the social worker directly instead of seeking a qualified professional, risking a

1. Select one of the cases available in Engage. Using the Steps in
Ethical Decision Making on pp. 80-81, discuss how the social
worker should handle the situation moving forward.
Your initial discussion board post should be no less than 250
words in length. Be sure to use APA style and format: in-text
citations and references. You should also include a descriptive
subject line in this initial post.
Vignette #1
A colleague of yours, Dr. Solomon, contacts you for advice
regarding a new client she has just seen. The client, Mr. Don
Tellanyone, is a 47-year-old man who is seeking services for
depression. During the initial phone contact, he asked
repeatedly about privacy and wanted assurances that
information discussed in session was confidential. The patient
repeated this line of questioning during the first face-to-face
session. As the session progressed, he revealed that the source
of his depression was the death of his mother one year ago. His
mother had suffered from a combination of severe respiratory
problems and Alzheimer’s. Mr. Tellanyone had been caring for
her and his father in his home for 6 years prior to her death.
During the last two years, she required total care. He revealed
that she had been suffering greatly and, out of compassion for
her, he gave her an excess dose of her sleeping and pain pills.
Medical personnel never questioned the death as the woman had
been quite sick and “It was only a matter of time.” Mr.
Tellanyone goes on to explain that he is now caring for his
father in similar circumstances, although there is no dementia.
His father has declined rapidly since the death of his wife and

2. now requires total care. Mr. Tellanyone reveals that recently he
had a conversation with his father in which the father
commented how peaceful his wife’s death was and how he
hoped for a similar passing. Mr. Tellanyone is feeling quite
guilty about his mother. Simultaneously, he strongly believes he
made the right decision. He would like help to work through the
issues. He is also very concerned about confidentiality and
wants assurances from Dr. Solomon. Dr. Solomon, feeling
uncomfortable with the situation, contacts you for a
consultation about the potential ethical issues for this case.
Vignette #2
A social worker had an intake appointment with a new client.
As soon as he looked at the intake form, he realized that she is
the ex-wife of his former client. The therapy with the ex-
husband was brief, and he focused on how he wanted to leave
the marriage. The prospective client was using her maiden name
and gave no indication that she had known about her ex-
husband’s treatment with the psychologist. When asked about
the reason for the referral, she said that her physician had
referred her for anxiety. During the session, she stated that he is
still in communication with her ex-husband because they share
three children.
Vignette #3
Dr. Smith is a social worker who has worked with a young
woman for about 9 months. The patient presents with a history
of rejection and abandonment as well as persons of power
misusing her. She recently received an offer to become a sales
representative for a pharmaceutical company. The social worker
and patient discussed the type of job she was entering because
she may experience rejection from doctors, nurses, and other
office personnel. After her 6 weeks of training, the company
assigns her to a regional director that the social worker knows

3. personally. Along with the initial anxiety of the new job, her
territory, and her boss, she reports a fear of failure and other
anxiety related symptoms. The social worker knows her new
boss, Mr. Biggy. The social worker seeks to reassure the patient
that he, the social worker knows Mr. Biggy on a personal basis
and that “he is a really a good guy” that seems bright, friendly,
and fair. He indicates that Mr. Biggy is a good “family man”.
The patient is reassured, and reported less anxiety. In actuality,
Mr. Biggy’s wife is a very close friend of Dr. Smith’s wife.
They have dinner as couples several times per year. Several
weeks into going on sales calls, your patient reports that Mr.
Biggy is complimenting her on the way she looks and her ability
to make the sale. They start spending more time together.
However, she begins to feel uncomfortable as she feels like they
are spending too much time together. Mr. Biggy starts asking
questions that are more personal, forwards her “funny” emails,
and texts some inappropriate remarks to her, mainly about her
alluring power that helps make sales. Mr. Biggy and Dr. Smith
meet in an unplanned social venue. Mr. Biggy pulls Dr. Smith
aside and explains how he has become very attracted to a new
sales representative. He thinks that she is young and
impressionable. He confides that he would like to have an affair
with her. Dr. Smith politely explains that he feels
uncomfortable with them discussing his more personal marital
issues. Mr. Biggy indicates that he wants to talk more about his
feelings. Dr. Smith suggests a referral to a psychologist, but Mr.
Biggy states that he feels more comfortable talking with Dr.
Smith. After some other small talk, Dr. Smith leaves to mingle
with other friends.
Vignette #4
A female social worker receives a call from Buddy, her very
close high school friend. The social worker speaks with Buddy
about once every six to nine months. During those calls, the
conversations typically focus on careers, family members, and

4. the whereabouts about other classmates. Buddy phoned the
social worker 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, the
social worker 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 the social worker 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." The
social worker is unclear whether Buddy is serious or joking.