There are numerous ethical issues that medical professionals who work with children and their families may experience. Sometimes, parents disagree with one another about treatment decisions or disagree with the child. At other times, families and treatment providers may hold opposing views about the best path forward. Medical providers have an obligation to encourage patient participation in treatment planning and decision-making, but it may not always be obvious how much participation is beneficial to very young children. Navigating ethical challenges is rarely a straightforward process, but medical social workers can consult the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers, as well as trusted colleagues and supervisors, as they work to uphold their ethical obligations to patients and families and provide compassionate, competent care.
In this Assignment, you use a case study to analyze ethical dilemmas in pediatric care and identify opportunities for patient advocacy.
Submit a 2- to 3-page paper in which you:
Describe the ethical considerations involved in a child’s pursuit of gender-affirming treatment at a young age. Be sure to cite specific standards from the NASW Code of Ethics and/or Standards for the Practice of Social Work With Adolescents.
Mental health professionals currently play a gatekeeping role to children and adolescents seeking gender-affirming treatment. Describe the ethical tensions this role presents and explain how social workers can uphold their ethical responsibilities to clients as they navigate this power dynamic.
Describe your level of comfort in working with Sam and family.
Explain how you would advocate beyond your direct-practice role for other children and adolescents who may be seeking gender-affirming care.
Use the Learning Resources to support your Assignment. Make sure to provide APA citations and a reference list.
National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social WorkersLinks to an external site.. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
McCoyd, J. L. M., & Kerson, T. S., (Eds.). (2023). Social work in health settings: Practice in context (5th ed.). Routledge.
Chapter 8, “Sam’s ‘Hatching’ Process: Care Management for a Child With Gender Dysphoria” (pp. 129–140)
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