HS 226 Salter
Ethics and the Law Winter 2023
Ethical Dilemma Case Study
Purpose:
This assignment is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their skills in ethical decision
making. Students will be assigned a case study and are to follow the steps below to evaluate the
assigned case utilizing a systematic model of ethical decision making and decide upon a course
of action that is supported by professional codes of ethics and Oregon law.
Process:
Students will be assigned one of three case studies that portray common ethical dilemmas in
the field of human services. They will use the Steps in Making Ethical Decisions discussed in
Chapter 1 of the text and outlined on the blue handout provided in Week 2. Students will be
working individually to produce their own papers, but class time will be allotted so that
students with the same case can meet in a group to discuss the scenario. Students will also be
expected to consult with two outside individuals on their case: one can be a Human Services
peer (not in your same group), while the other needs to be a professional human services
provider. A list of possible consultants will be made available in Moodle, or students may use
their own professional contacts (these need to be credentialed mental health providers).
Students should review Chapter 1 of the text, and Steps in Making Ethical Decisions handout
(under Week 2 on Moodle) in preparation for this assignment. They will also need to access the
Oregon Administrative Rules (OARS), the National Organization of Human Services (NOHS) Code
of Ethics, and the ethical code of at least one other professional organization as they proceed
with the steps below. These items can be found on Moodle underneath the General Course
Information heading (Note: students will find the comparison chart compiled by the TA of
assistance in this process). The assignment is worth up to 100 points and point allocations are
listed alongside each step.
Steps:
1) Briefly summarize the case and illuminate any ethical, legal, or moral issues you see
occuring. Include the title of the case study in your summary. (5 points)
2) Follow the Steps in Making Ethical Decisions as follows:
a) Identify the problem or dilemma to sort out whether the conflict is ethical, legal,
cultural, professional, or values oriented. (5 points)
b) Identify the potential issues involved, evaluating the rights, responsibilities, and
welfare of all who are affected. Be sure to discuss any relevant cultural
dimensions. (5 points)
c) Review the relevant ethics codes, referencing both the NOHS Code of Ethics and
one other professional code for guidance on the conflict. (10 points)
d) List any applicable laws or regulations by referencing the OAR/ORS that may
apply to the issue at hand. (10 points)
e) Obtain consultation with at least two trusted colleagues, one may be a peer in
the Human Services program (although not someone in your group) while the
other must be a professional human service provider. Document these
consultations according to the Guidelines for Documentation of Consultation
handout. (20 points)
f) Consider possible and probable courses of action by detailing at least three
solutions (ethical and unethical), and providing the pros and cons of each.
(10 points)
g) Enumerate and consider the possible consequences of various decisions,
considering the implications for all affected. Imagine what the client might
advocate on their behalf. (10 points)
h) Choose what appears to be the best course of action, and evaluate your course of
action by answering the questions below: (20 points)
■ How does my action fit with the code of ethics of my profession?
■ To what degree does the action take into account the cultural values and
experiences of the client?
■ How might others evaluate my action?
■ What did I learn from dealing with this ethical dilemma?
Additional Grading Information:
This paper should be a minimum of 1300 words, or approximately three pages single spaced or
six pages double spaced using a 10-12-point font. It may be submitted electronically on Moodle
or printed and submitted in class. Attention should be paid to grammar, punctuation, and
spelling (5 points). Students are encouraged to use the Writing Center for assistance as needed.
Late work is accepted up to one week beyond the due date, and is docked 20%.
Guidelines for Documentation of Consultation for HS 226 Case Study
● Students must consult with at least two individuals for this case study. One of the
consultants may be another Human Services student at LCC, although they cannot be a
class member with the same assigned case study. The other consultant must be a
practicing human services professional. Students may choose to consult with a provider
they know personally or through their workplace/internship. Alternatively, a list of LCC
staff who are credentialed helping professionals will be provided on Moodle.
● You may consult with people in person,via video conferencing, by phone or email.
When consulting with a professional, identify yourself as a student in the Human
Services program at LCC and let them know you are working on a class assignment. Be
mindful that these are busy folks so be prepared and try to keep the consultation to
15-20 minutes. Remember, you are representing the program and the college in addition
to yourself as a developing professional!
● Be prepared to discuss the dilemma thoroughly with the consultant. Some consultants
might jump immediately to what they would do to resolve the dilemma, while others
might expect to hear your reasoning before offering their own.
● These may be some helpful questions you might ask during the consultation:
What facts of the case seem most important to you in determining the ethical
alternatives? How would you resolve this ethical dilemma? Are there parts of the ethical
code that I have not identified? What laws may I have not taken into consideration?
What have I not considered? What do you think my blind spots may be here?
Does my analysis of the ethical principles appear sound? Is my evaluation of the most
responsible options consistent with your judgment?
● Explanation within the paper that you fully discussed the ethical dilemma with the
consultants, including what they would decide to do to resolve the ethical dilemma.
Be sure to provide the name of the consultants, and any applicable degrees or
credentials the individuals hold.
