LMSW Professional Values and Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A social worker is treating a client who is HIV-positive and refuses to inform their sexual partner. The partner is also a client of the same agency. What is the MOST appropriate action?
- Immediately disclose the client's status to the partner
- Explore the client's reasons for non-disclosure and discuss options (Correct answer)
- Contact public health authorities and disclose without client consent
- Terminate services with the HIV-positive client
Correct answer: Explore the client's reasons for non-disclosure and discuss options
The social worker should first explore the client's reluctance and work toward voluntary disclosure, while consulting legal and ethical guidelines about duty to protect.
Question 2: Which ethical concept refers to the social worker's obligation to keep promises and honor commitments made to clients?
- Beneficence
- Fidelity (Correct answer)
- Autonomy
- Justice
Correct answer: Fidelity
Fidelity refers to the duty to be faithful and trustworthy, keeping promises and honoring commitments made within the professional relationship.
Question 3: A social worker discovers their personal values conflict with a client's lifestyle choices. The MOST ethical response is to:
- Transfer the client to a more compatible social worker immediately
- Discuss the conflict openly with the client to improve the relationship
- Provide competent services while bracketing personal values (Correct answer)
- Refer the client if values conflict cannot be resolved through supervision
Correct answer: Provide competent services while bracketing personal values
Social workers must set aside personal values that could interfere with objective, competent service delivery, seeking supervision when needed.
Question 4: What does 'informed consent' in social work practice require?
- Client signature on a standard agency form before services begin
- Clients receiving clear information about services, risks, alternatives, and their right to refuse (Correct answer)
- Verbal agreement from the client at the start of each session
- Written consent only for clinical interventions, not assessment
Correct answer: Clients receiving clear information about services, risks, alternatives, and their right to refuse
Informed consent requires that clients receive comprehensive, understandable information about services, potential risks, alternatives, and their right to withdraw consent.
Question 5: A social worker who is experiencing significant personal problems that impair their professional judgment should FIRST:
- Continue working while managing personal issues privately
- Seek personal therapy and consult with a supervisor about impairment (Correct answer)
- Take a leave of absence without notifying the agency
- Refer all clients to colleagues until the issues are resolved
Correct answer: Seek personal therapy and consult with a supervisor about impairment
The NASW Code requires social workers to monitor their own impairment and seek help, including consulting supervisors when personal issues affect professional functioning.
Question 6: The ethical principle of 'non-maleficence' in social work practice means:
- Actively promoting the well-being of clients
- Treating all clients equally regardless of background
- Avoiding actions that cause harm to clients (Correct answer)
- Respecting clients' right to make their own decisions
Correct answer: Avoiding actions that cause harm to clients
Non-maleficence is the obligation to avoid doing harm, including physical, psychological, financial, or social harm to clients.
Question 7: A social worker is asked by a court to release a client's therapy records without the client's consent. The social worker should:
- Release all records immediately to comply with the court order
- Consult with an attorney and release only information required by the court order (Correct answer)
- Refuse to release any records to protect client confidentiality
- Ask the client to sign a release before complying with the court
Correct answer: Consult with an attorney and release only information required by the court order
When facing a court order, social workers should consult legal counsel and release only the minimum information legally required, protecting client confidentiality as much as possible.
LMSW Professional Values and Ethics 3
A social worker is treating a client who is HIV-positive and refuses to inform their sexual partner.
The partner is also a client of the same agency.
What is the MOST appropriate action?