Although clients do not have a right to effective treatment, they do a have a right to competent
and ethical treatment. Clients have a right to expect that social workers will provide services in
a manner consistent with prevailing practice and ethical standards. This article explores social
workers' obligation to provide service competently and ethically, focusing especially on issues
related to social workers' guaranteeing treatment results, expertise, and competence; repre
senting qualifications and expertise; monitoring and evaluating treatment effectiveness; and
using of research-based knowledge to guide practice.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Arriaza v. Harvard Community Health Plan, No. 86-3051 (U.S. filed April 1991).
2.
Austin, K.M., Moline, M.E., & Williams, G.T. (1990). Confronting malpractice: Legal and ethical dilemmas in psychotherapy. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
3.
Cohen, R.J., & Manano, W.E. (1982). Legal guidebook in mental health. New York: Free Press.
4.
Dickson, D.T. (1995). Law in the health and human services. New York: Free Press.
5.
Loewenberg, F.M., & Dolgoff, R. (1992). Ethical decisions for social work practice (4th ed.). Itasca, Il: F.E. Peacock.
6.
Meyer, R.G., Landis, E.R., & Hays, J.R. (1988). Law for the psychotherapist. New York: Norton.
7.
Miller v. Martin, Onesian, Macomb County Community Guidance Center, and St. Joseph Hospital of Mt. Clemens, No. 89-3213-NH (Macomb County., MI, Circuit Court.
8.
National Association of Social Workers (NASW). ( 1996). NASW code of ethics. Washington, DC : Author.
9.
Patient improperly treated for panic disorder and agoraphobia. ( 1992, July). Mental Health Law News, 7, 6.
10.
Psychiatrists liable for patient's attempted suicide. (1991 , March). Mental Health Law News, 6, 1.
11.
Reamer, F.G. (1994). Social work malpractice and liability. New York: Columbia University Press.
12.
Reamer, F.G. (1995a). Malpractice claims against social workers: First facts. Social Work, 40, 595-601.
13.
Reamer, F.G. (1995b). Social work values and ethics. New York: Columbia University Press.
14.
Reamer, F.G. (1998). Ethical standards in social work: A critical review of the NASW Code of Ethics. Washington, DC: NASW Press.
15.
Rhodes, M.L. (1986). Ethical dilemmas in social work practice. London: Routledge Kegan Paul.
