What can you do when the law and ethical issues collide?
Learning Objectives
After considering this resource, you should be more aware of how the law and ethics sit alongside each other in social work, and the tools you need to navigate through dilemmas when the two fields collide.
Ethics and the law provide two mandates in social work for practice. Often the two sit side by side harmoniously, however you may come across cases whereby the two interfaces may disagree - something may be lawful, but in your opinion, unethical, or something might be unlawful, but intervening is the ethical thing to do.
In the following video, Michael Preston-Shoot examines the relationship between the law and ethics in social work, and how you can begin to address dilemmas when they arise.
Reflective Questions
- Have you ever faced a situation when the law and the ethical issues were opposing each other? How did you approach the dilemma? Were you satisfied with the outcome?
- How can supervision help you to consider ethical or legal dilemmas? Discuss this with your practice educator at your next meeting.
- Consider the example of unaccompanied asylum seekers mentioned in the video. If presented with such a case, how would you reconcile the actions you were able to take in light of the law and ethical dilemmas presented?
- Consider the example of assisted suicide mentioned in the video. If presented with such a case, how would you reconcile the actions you were able to take in light of the law and ethical dilemmas presented?