Exam Preview for 1554: Ethics of Vaccinations, Mask Mandates, Clien

Ethics of Vaccinations, Mask Mandates, Client Self-Determination, and Safety in Social Work Practice

Please note: exam questions are subject to change.

1. Assume there is a pandemic and the Center for Disease Control recommends that all adults should be vaccinated. A client does not wish to be vaccinated because of fears related to misinformation spread over the Internet. As a clinical social worker in private practice, which of the following is the most ethical response? Tell the client he is wrong and refuse to offer further services. Jointly explore the client’s beliefs and sources of information, offer accurate information, and honor the client’s right to decide for himself. Contact adult protective services and report the client for medical neglect. Report the client to the public health department due to public health risk.
2. During a pandemic, you are trying to determine whether your social work practice should require clients to wear masks when they come into the office. When making decisions about the most ethical policy for your practice, which of the following ethical principles are most relevant? Confidentiality and professional competence Duty to report and privacy Autonomy and safety Leadership and loyalty
3. The ethical principle of autonomy suggests that social workers should respect a client’s right to: be free from control by others privacy an attorney self-incrimination
4. Ethical principles refer to: laws passed by the state and enforced by the state specific agency policies enforced by an agency criminal statutes general guidelines about ways of acting morally
5. One of the primary reasons that social work practice settings should have policies regarding health and safety precautions is to: ensure that social workers and clients do not have to think about challenging ethical issues provide social workers and clients with guidance about how to manage possible conflicts between them make it easier for clients to sue their social workers remove a client’s right to self-determination and autonomy
6. If a social worker’s agency policy requires clients to wear masks (during a pandemic situation), then what should a social worker do if a client refuses to wear a mask? See the client without a mask and do not tell anyone Initiate an application for involuntary referral to a mental health facility because the client poses an immediate risk to self and others Wish the client good luck and send them on their way Explore alternatives such as videoconferencing or referral to another agency
7. A client tells a social worker that she would never vote for a particular political party because the party supports mandatory vaccinations for school-aged children. The client asks the worker what party he supports. Which of the following is the most ethical social worker response? Tell the client that talking about politics in a social work session is illegal Discuss why it may be better to focus on the client’s needs and interests rather than get into a partisan political discussion Pretend the client did not ask that question and change the topic to something safer, like how the weather has been so beautiful Tell the client, “I also oppose vaccinations and support the same political party as you,” even if this statement is not true
8. When engaging clients in problem-solving discussions about whether it is appropriate to get a vaccination, social workers should: listen to the client, offer empathic understanding, openly discuss the pros and cons of different options, and consider a referral to a health professional with specific expertise. use their authority to convince a client that they must get a vaccination, for their own good. provide the client with funny memes that promote vaccinations by making vaccination-rejectors look stupid or foolish. simply agree with whatever the client says regardless of whether the client is relying on accurate or inaccurate information
9. A social worker has a pre-existing condition that puts the worker at grave risk if she is exposed to a virus that is currently spreading throughout the community. If a client insists on seeing the worker in person and without a mask, the social worker should: see the client, in person and without a mask, because client wishes always take priority over social worker interests disclose her pre-existing condition in a way that wins the client’s sympathy and encourages the client to wear a mask let the client know about her safety concerns and invite the client into a problem-solving discussion inform the client that she is being very selfish
10. Assume there is a pandemic and a school social worker is working in a state that prohibits schools from requiring students to wear masks. The social worker is very concerned because the virus is very easily transmitted and can be fatal. Which of the following strategies is both ethical and legal? Requiring students to wear masks when they are seeing school social workers. Prohibiting students from wearing masks when they are seeing school social workers. Encouraging students to use social distancing, videoconferencing, or other self-care strategies that can reduce risks of contracting the virus. Refusing to serve any students until the pandemic is over.