What is an ethical dilemma in social work practice?

An ethical dilemma in social work practice is characterized by a situation where conflicting ethical principles or values must be navigated. This type of scenario often arises when a social worker faces a choice between two or more courses of action, each of which has significant moral implications. For instance, a social worker might struggle with the need to maintain client confidentiality while also recognizing the need to protect a client or others from harm.

In these situations, the social worker must weigh the competing ethical principles, such as the importance of client autonomy against the duty to protect. This conflict can result in challenging decision-making processes that require not just knowledge of ethical standards but also critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills.

While other options may involve challenges faced by social workers, they do not encapsulate the essence of an ethical dilemma. For instance, a situation with clear right and wrong answers does not constitute a dilemma, as it implies an absence of moral conflict. A conflict involving multiple clients might complicate matters but does not inherently involve a clash of ethical principles. Lastly, a disagreement with a supervisor pertains more to professional dynamics rather than the core moral conflict that defines an ethical dilemma.