Psychiatric advance directives (PADs) are legal documents that allow individuals to express their wishes for future psychiatric care and to authorize a legally appointed proxy to make decisions on their behalf during incapacitating crises. PADs are viewed as an alternative to the coercive interventions that sometimes accompany mental health crises…

Describes Gilligan's work which has been used uncritically to resolve gender-based rifts and ethical problems. Critiques Gilligan's psychological vision of gender and "male" and "female" normative ethics as an example of a theory that may contribute to the justification, rather than to the transformation, of professional and…

Assessed conditions under which clinicians might consider breaking patient-therapist confidentiality, using vignettes of clinical situations. Social workers were more likely than their counterparts in psychiatry and psychology to report that they would breach confidences when confronting specified clinical situations, with older social workers…

Results of a survey that questioned police social workers regarding the protection of client confidentiality in police settings revealed several problems related to the unique character of the setting and to the identification of social workers with the goals and practices of police. Results raise questions about the protection of client…

Considers some of the issues involved in the debate over codes of ethics regarding the right to effective treatment. Offers suggestions for how ethical codes could be modified to include clients' right to receive effective treatment and social workers' obligation to be educated about and to provide such treatment. (RJM)

Discusses the implications of Jaffee v. Redmond--a case involving privileged communication between counselor and client--for social workers involved in federal and nonfederal cases, for those who practice with Native Americans, and for those who practice in federal prisons. Discusses the positive and the negative implications of the decision. (RJM)

Addresses concept of the therapeutic contract in clinical social work and psychotherapy. Defines "contract," describing legal implications, and implications for the professional relationship and course of treatment. Discusses mutuality, penalty clauses, voluntary participation in contractual process, malpractice and professional negligence,…

Focuses on the ethical dilemmas surrounding informed consent in court-mandated practice. Examines the principles of informed consent, being informed about legal requirements, coercion and consent, the power that social workers have over clients, and the therapeutic alliance. Discusses the implications of informed consent for social work practice.…

Social workers are currently pressing to have the profession granted privileged communication. It is assumed that this special legal status will assure protection of clients' confidence. This article questions this assumption and points out that the profession must first adopt effective measures to ensure confidentiality. (Author)

Only two states have enacted statutes of privileged communications that prevent workers from being compelled to testify in court concerning matters revealed in confidence by clients. The author considers the need for further extension of this privilege and explains how workers and clients can protect themselves. (Author)

Examines the traditional concept of confidentiality juxtaposed with newer developments in theory and practice. Proposes guidelines for a more workable definition of confidentiality that reinforces the role of social workers in dealing with people in their environments. (Author)

Provides a classification of the variety of ethical dilemmas social workers encounter in direct service to individuals and families, relationships among professional colleagues, and design and implementation of social welfare policy. Presents a series of guidelines for assessing cases in which standard social work values come into conflict.…