What situations can you think of where a worker could unintentionally violate the law? How should the situation be better handled?

In this unit we have examined client confidentiality, privacy, duty to warn, mandatory reporting of suspicion of child abuse and more. Sometimes these concepts seem simple in the classroom but more complex in practice. For this discussion, think of a situation where it may be more difficult for a worker to practice legally and ethically. Describe a situation that could lead a worker to violating the law. Clarify how the situation should be handled.

Requirements:

For example, a worker may be tempted to violate confidentiality when she experiences an unusually dramatic episode with a consumer. She may be tempted to tell her friends and family about what she experienced at work. To do so would violate confidentiality and she may not share this information with anyone who is not directly involved with the client’s care. Instead, she is advised to process the events with her supervisor and colleagues who work with the client. By talking it over with other professionals, she can release her excitement and receive professional guidance.

Another example is a true story of a worker who wanted to catch up on her record keeping. She took a client’s chart to the laundromat and accidentally left it after her wash was done. A good Samaritan found the chart, noted the client’s address and mailed it to the client with a note that read, “Hello. This must belong to you. I found it in the laundromat.” The client sued the worker and agency and won. The worker should have stayed at the agency to complete the record keeping. We are all capable of misplacing things.