LMSW Professional Values and Ethics 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scenario BEST illustrates a dual relationship that an LMSW should avoid?
- Treating a client who shares the social worker's cultural background
- Providing therapy to the social worker's own child (Correct answer)
- Accepting a $5 gift from a client at the end of treatment
- Attending the same community event as a current client
Correct answer: Providing therapy to the social worker's own child
Providing therapy to one's own child creates a dual relationship that compromises objectivity and exploits the existing family power dynamic.
Question 2: A social worker suspects a colleague is practicing under the influence of alcohol. The social worker's FIRST obligation is to:
- Report the colleague to the state licensing board immediately
- Confront the colleague privately and encourage them to seek help
- Document incidents and report to a supervisor to protect clients (Correct answer)
- Ignore the situation unless a client reports being harmed
Correct answer: Document incidents and report to a supervisor to protect clients
The social worker's primary obligation is client safety, requiring reporting to a supervisor who can take action to protect clients while addressing the colleague's impairment.
Question 3: What is the social work ethical concept of 'distributive justice' most concerned with?
- Fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities in society (Correct answer)
- Equal treatment of all clients within an agency
- Ensuring legal rights of clients are protected in court
- Balancing individual client needs with community resources
Correct answer: Fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities in society
Distributive justice concerns the fair allocation of resources, opportunities, and burdens across society, a core concern of the social work profession.
Question 4: A client with schizophrenia has capacity to make decisions but is refusing medication that could prevent hospitalization. The social worker should:
- Override the client's decision and arrange for involuntary treatment
- Respect the client's right to refuse while exploring concerns and documenting (Correct answer)
- Discontinue services since the client is non-compliant
- Contact family members to pressure the client into accepting medication
Correct answer: Respect the client's right to refuse while exploring concerns and documenting
A client with decision-making capacity has the right to refuse treatment; the social worker should respect this while exploring barriers and ensuring the client understands consequences.
Question 5: Which situation represents an appropriate exception to confidentiality?
- An employer requests a reference for a client who is applying for a job
- A client's insurance company requests session notes for billing purposes
- A client expresses intent to harm a specific, identifiable person (Correct answer)
- A family member calls expressing concern about a client's wellbeing
Correct answer: A client expresses intent to harm a specific, identifiable person
Imminent danger to an identifiable third party triggers the duty-to-warn obligation, which is a legally recognized exception to confidentiality.
Question 6: The concept of 'privileged communication' in social work practice refers to:
- The right of social workers to refuse to testify about client communications in court (Correct answer)
- Confidential information shared only with supervisors
- Information shared between colleagues under peer review protection
- The agency's right to access all client records
Correct answer: The right of social workers to refuse to testify about client communications in court
Privileged communication is a legal protection that allows social workers to refuse to disclose client information in legal proceedings without the client's consent.
Question 7: A social worker disagrees with an agency policy they believe harms clients. According to the NASW Code of Ethics, the social worker should:
- Comply with the policy without question since the agency is the employer
- Work to change the policy through legitimate organizational channels (Correct answer)
- Ignore the policy and act according to personal judgment
- Resign from the agency rather than follow an unethical policy
Correct answer: Work to change the policy through legitimate organizational channels
The Code of Ethics encourages social workers to work to change policies they believe are harmful through appropriate internal channels such as supervisors, administration, or advocacy.
LMSW Professional Values and Ethics 4
Which scenario BEST illustrates a dual relationship that an LMSW should avoid?