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Ethical Dilemma Assignment:The Prince of TidesMarch 29, 2014Melissa L. LaffertyEthical Dilemma Assignment:The Prince of TidesIn the 1991 romantic drama film The Prince of Tides, psychiatrist Susan Lowenstein violates many ethical values, principles, and standards in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. The?NASW Code of Ethics?sets forth values, principles, and standards to guide social workers’ practice and conduct (NASW, 2008). In the movie The Prince of Tides, directed by Barbra Streisand (1991), Dr. Lowenstein falls in love with her client’s brother and begins to have an intimate relationship with him. Having an intimate relationship with a client’s relative violates part C of ethical standard 1.06 Conflicts of Interest, part B of ethical standard 1.09 Sexual Relationships, and the value and principle of Integrity in the NASW Code of Ethics. After his twin sister’s latest suicide attempt, Tom Wingo’s mother, Lila, asks him to travel to New York to help his sister’s psychiatrist gather family information. At this time, Tom was having difficulties with his marriage, as his wife, Sallie, was having an affair. His sister’s psychiatrist, Dr. Susan Lowenstein, was also having difficulties with her marriage, as her husband was a famous musician who traveled often. As Tom begins to share his disturbing and traumatic family history with Dr. Lowenstein, the two begin to develop feelings toward each other. Social workers, however, are ethically prohibited under the NASW Code of Ethics from having dual or intimate relationships with clients or clients’ relatives. Dr. Lowenstein, however, begins to have an intimate relationship with Tom anyway, inviting him to her home and on a romantic departure.By having a dual or multiple relationship with her client’s brother, Dr. Lowenstein violated part C of ethical standard 1.06 Conflicts of Interest in the NASW Code of Ethics. This ethical standard states: Social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. In instances when dual or multiple relationships are unavoidable, social workers should take steps to protect clients and are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries. (Dual or multiple relationships occur when social workers relate to clients in more than one relationship, whether professional, social, or business. Dual or multiple relationships can occur simultaneously or consecutively) (NASW, 2008). Therefore, by having both a professional and personal relationship with Tom, Dr. Lowenstein violated this ethical standard. This dual relationship was avoidable, but Dr. Lowenstein failed to maintain clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries with her client’s brother. By engaging in a sexual relationship with her client’s brother, Dr. Lowenstein violated part B of ethical standard 1.09 Sexual Relationships in the NASW Code of Ethics. This ethical standard states: Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with clients’ relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a close personal relationship when there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. Sexual activity or sexual contact with clients’ relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a personal relationship has the potential to be harmful to the client and may make it difficult for the social worker and client to maintain appropriate professional boundaries. Social workers—not their clients, their clients’ relatives, or other individuals with whom the client maintains a personal relationship—assume the full burden for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries (NASW, 2008). Dr. Lowenstein did not put forth any effort in setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries with Tom, and her sexual relationship with her client’s brother could have potentially harmed her client. Dr. Lowenstein therefore violated the ethical standard of Sexual Relationships in the NASW Code of Ethics. By violating standards in the NASW Code of Ethics in order to pursue an intimate relationship with her client’s brother, Dr. Lowenstein violated the social work ethical value and principle of Integrity. In his 2010 book Ethics and Values in Social Work: An Integrated Approach for a Comprehensive Curriculum, Allan Edward Barsky defines integrity as, “The quality of being honest, responsible, reliable, true, transparent, and consistent in relation to one’s primary values and ethics” (p. 414). The ethical principle of Integrity in the NASW Code of Ethics states: Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.? Social workers are continually aware of the profession’s mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them. Social workers act honestly and responsibly and promote ethical practices on the part of the organizations with which they are affiliated (NASW, 2008).Therefore, by not consistently practicing and following the social work profession’s ethical standards, Dr. Lowenstein violated the ethical value and principle of Integrity. Social workers must always uphold the profession’s mission, values, ethical principles, and standards and practice in a manner that is consistent with them, which Dr. Lowenstein did not do. I did not feel any discomfort regarding the discussion of the ethical dilemma; however, as someone who is passionate about “true love”, I do feel that the dilemma is complex. Dr. Lowenstein may have felt that her relationship with Tom and finding “true love” was worth jeopardizing her career; however, even though we cannot control how we feel about others, we can control how we act. Dr. Lowenstein should have set clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries with Tom and never should have invited him to her home. This way, she could have avoided developing additional feelings for him and violating social work ethical standards. When attempting to solve an ethical dilemma, social workers must follow 8 essential steps: (1) determine whether there is an ethical issue, (2) identify the key values and principles involved, (3) receive feedback from others, (4) identify what ethics are involved, (5) evaluate the dilemma on the basis of established ethical principles, (6) identify and think about possible alternatives to pursue, (7) weigh the pros and cons of each alternative, and (8) make their decision. In The Prince of Tides, Dr. Lowenstein had to decide whether she would pursue an intimate relationship with her client’s brother Tom or follow the ethical values, principles, and standards in the NASW Code of Ethics. Dr. Lowenstein would violate the value and principle of Integrity and standards 1.06 Conflicts of Interest and 1.09 Sexual Relationships if she decided to pursue an intimate relationship with her client’s brother. Dr. Lowenstein should have consulted her colleagues about the ethical dilemma, as they would have encouraged her to act ethically. She also should have consulted with her client and Tom about the dilemma so that she could establish clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries with them and/or terminate their relationships for the benefit of the client. Dr. Lowenstein also should have critically thought about the pros and cons of pursuing the relationship and following the Code of Ethics. Dr. Lowenstein essentially decided to pursue the relationship, and at the end of the film, Tom was ultimately the one to terminate the relationship and return home to his family. In the film The Prince of Tides, Dr. Susan Lowenstein violates many ethical values, principles, and standards in the NASW Code of Ethics. Dr. Lowenstein falls in love with her client’s brother and begins to have a relationship with him, and having an intimate relationship with a client’s relative violates part C of ethical standard 1.06 Conflicts of Interest, part B of ethical standard 1.09 Sexual Relationships, and the social work value and principle of Integrity. Dr. Lowenstein failed to establish clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries with Tom and therefore violated many social work values, principles, and ethical standards by choosing to pursue an intimate relationship with him. ReferencesBarsky, A. E.? (2010).???Ethics and values in social work: An integrated approach to a comprehensive curriculum.? New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ?National Association of Social Workers.? (2008).? ?Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers.? Retrieved from?, B. (Director/Producer). (1991). The prince of tides [Motion Picture]. United States: Columbia Pictures. ................
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