Exam Preview for 1347: Deontology: A Principled Approach to Ethical

Deontology: A Principled Approach to Ethical Decision Making with Clients

Please note: exam questions are subject to change.

1. When applying deontology to ethical situations, we should focus on: The consequences of the possible courses of action. The personal qualities or virtues of the actor. The stories of the actor. The duties or ethical principle that guide our actions.
2. What are “categorical imperatives?” Unconditional or absolute moral obligations. Consequences of the act. Laws passed by the state. Agency policies.
3. A client is threatening to kill her former partner. A social worker wonders whether to warn the partner. When using a deontological approach, the primary ethical principles that the social worker should consider in this situation are: Honesty and professional competence. Protection of privacy and protection of life. Promoting social justice and equity. Faith in a higher power and following the law.
4. When engaging clients in discussions of ethical issues using deontology, social workers should: Tell the client which ethical principles or duties are most important. Ask the client what the best solution would be. Tell the client what the best solution would be. Engage in an open discussion about the relevant ethical principles.
5. A client with a terminal illness asks a social worker whether it is moral to end his life. Using a deontological approach, the social worker should: Tell the client that intentionally ending his life is wrong. Help the client discuss relevant ethical principles, including personal autonomy and protection of life. Focus on how the client’s actions will affect his family members. Help the client build a sense of moral strength by identifying all the reasons that the client should.
6. A social worker posts false information on social media in order to encourage people to donate money to an agency that helps refugees. Although the social worker’s intent is to do good, the social worker has violated the principle of: Beauty Honesty Equality Forgiveness
7. A social worker wants to hire his sister to conduct intake interviews at his agency. The program director says that the agency does not allow nepotism. When using a deontological approach to discussing this issue, the social worker and supervisor should discuss whether: Equity should be prioritized over family loyalty. Hiring relatives is against the law. Anybody will find out that the social worker hired his sister. The social worker lacks mental capacity.
8. When weighing the importance of different ethical principles, social workers should: Assume that “protection of life” is always the most important principle. Educate everyone that “social justice” is the most important principle. Explain that confidentiality is the most important principle because it is the basis of building a trusting relationship with clients. Engage people affected by the decision in a frank discussion of how to weigh different principles.
9. When discussing ethical dilemmas with professional colleagues, social workers should acknowledge that: There is a singular correct choice for resolving the dilemma. Reasonable, prudent people may have legitimate differences of opinion about the best course of action. Every choice is equally bad. The best choice should be determined by a brilliant and qualified ethicist such as Immanuel Kant, because lay people are not properly equipped to do so.
10. A client asks you (a social worker) to lie to an insurance company about his mental health status so the client can obtain coverage for needed mental health services. In addition to discussing importance of honesty, you should: Report the client to police. Acknowledge the client’s concerns, values, morals, and beliefs. Agree to lie to the insurance company. Educate the client about how her request demonstrates a deep and disturbing immorality.