Ethics in Implementing Change

Issues that affect the human and social services profession and society often involve ethical considerations. For example, access to services may be dependent on meeting criteria that favor one group over another. Should this situation raise ethical concerns? If so, where do you find guidance on how to address the ethical issue? As an interdisciplinary field, many different codes of ethics may be applied to issues related to human services. Selecting the appropriate code depends on the nature of the issue, as well as on your position or role within human services. Along with the codes of ethics, Kitchener (1984) identified five core principles that can guide ethical decision making across disciplines. These core principles include autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and fidelity. As a human and social services professional, you should keep these core principles in mind in your everyday work.

For this Discussion, you consider ethical concerns that may be associated with your Capstone Project issue.

Reference: Kitchener, K. S. (1984). Intuition, critical evaluation and ethical principles: The foundation for ethical decisions in counseling psychology. Counseling Psychologist, 12(3), 43–55.

To prepare:

• Consider the Capstone Project topic you selected in Week 1. Think about any ethical considerations related to this issue.
• Then, review professional codes of ethics that you have explored throughout your program (such as those from the National Organization for Human Services and others provided in this week’s Learning Resources), and consider their role in guiding the implementation of both professional and societal change. 

Post a brief description of the professional or societal issue you selected. Explain any ethical concerns that might be associated with the issue. Then, identify a professional code of ethics, and explain how it might be used to guide your action in addressing the issue. Be specific.