Ethical Decision-Making Final PaperFINAL
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Ethical Decision-Making in Substance Use Disorders Treatment
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Ethical Decision-Making in Substance Use Disorders Treatment
Introduction
Substance abuse disorder (SUD) treatment is fraught with moral problems due to the
multifaceted nature of the disease of addiction and the wide range of needs that people with SUD
present. Paraprofessionals working in SUD programmes frequently face ethical problems, which
require careful analysis and firm adherence to professional norms (Varkey, 2021). These
challenges may involve anything from protecting clients' privacy to making choices that directly
affect their well-being and treatment efficacy. This highlights the importance of ethical
awareness and decision-making in SUD treatment settings, as negotiating these ethical subtleties
becomes crucial in providing effective and morally sound care to clients battling addiction. This
paper investigates a potential moral problem that may arise throughout SUD treatment. It
explains the ethical decision-making process and the importance of consulting with a supervisor
in such a situation.
The Ethical Dilemma
Take a scenario where a professional working in a programme for people with drug abuse
problems, and you meet John, a client who has been dealing with severe opioid addiction for
several years. John is a middle-aged man who has repeatedly failed to follow his treatment plan.
He recently failed a random drug test for opioids despite the program's zero-tolerance policy on
such substances. The question is whether to continue John's therapy despite the positive drug test
or to expel him from the programme since the result of such infractions is specified in the
program's policies.
Relevant Ethical Boundaries
To ensure the client's safety and the efficacy of the treatment plan, it is crucial to refrain
from crossing any ethical lines. Several codes of ethics are essential here. As a matter of
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principle, paraprofessionals must keep all client information, including drug test results, strictly
confidential. The client's trust would be broken, and the most fundamental principle of
confidentiality would be violated if this information were shared without their permission.
Another critical factor is respecting the client's right to privacy (Varkey, 2021). Clients have the
inherent right to decide whether or not to continue therapy based on objective information. When
dealing with John, it is critical to always respect his independence. The nonmaleficence principle
requires the paraprofessional to consider the harm their actions could cause to John before taking
them. Without a well-thought-out plan for aftercare, simply dismissing him from the programme
puts him at risk of relapse and more injury. The Ethical Decision-Making Process
The paraprofessional can use a structured ethical decision-making process that includes
many key elements to deal with the complicated moral challenge posed by John's positive drug
test. This method provides a structured framework for ethically sound decisions and benefits the
client. The procedure begins with recognising the issue (McIntosh et al., 2020). Given one
positive drug test, the paraprofessional here faces the difficult choice of whether or not to
continue his therapy (Ignatowicz et al., 2023). Having a firm grasp on the nature of the issue is
essential in arriving at a just and fair solution. The next step for the paraprofessional is to
conduct an examination of the principles at play. This situation calls for strict adherence to the
nonmaleficence, benevolence, and confidentiality standards. Each principle's applicability to
John's position and potential for conflict or alignment with other regulations must be carefully
considered.
When making ethical choices, informed consent is essential. It requires having an honest
dialogue with John about the possible outcomes of the positive drug test result. Involving John in
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the decision-making process shows respect for his independence and guarantees that his views
and preferences will be considered. As a result, the paraprofessional needs to invest in a
thorough investigation of available choices. Thinking up and evaluating potential solutions to the
problem is part of this process (Hill et al., 2024). Increased monitoring, directing John to
additional support services or continuing treatment with increased safeguards are all possibilities.
When considering potential solutions, keeping the client's best interests and ethical standards in
mind is essential. The importance of thinking about the law cannot be overstated. Determining
whether or not clients must be discharged due to positive drug testing based on programme
policies and state regulations is crucial. Ethical considerations and John's best interests must be
weighed against applicable legal mandates. Careful deliberation is required when there is tension
between legal and ethical considerations.
The paraprofessional must weigh the pros and cons of many options and ultimately make
a judgement that puts John's health and independence first. This choice may involve proceeding
with his treatment while putting in place additional precautions; in either case, care must be
taken to ensure that the decision is ethically sound and consistent with the principles evaluated
thus far. Finally, introspection is an essential part of making ethical choices. The
paraprofessional is responsible for tracking and assessing the decision's results. This kind of
introspection guarantees that the choice will always be ethical and in John's best interests as he
returns to health. Supervisory Consultation
Ethical difficulties are commonplace in treating substance use disorders (SUD), elevating
the importance of supervisory consultation. Paraprofessionals responsible for delivering high-
quality treatment to those battling addiction should always be willing to communicate with a
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supervisor when faced with complex ethical dilemmas like the one posed by John's positive drug
test. Paraprofessionals rely heavily on supervisory consultation since it gives them access to
knowledge, experience, and viewpoints (An et al.,2023). A supervisor, especially one well-
versed in SUD treatment and ethics, can provide vital, objective advice. In addition, engaging
with a multidisciplinary team can increase the breadth of issues by adding other professional
viewpoints, ethical nuance, and practical approaches. Consultation with superiors is helpful in
many ways. First, it encourages a deeper comprehension of the current ethical challenge by
guaranteeing that all relevant implications and repercussions are thoroughly investigated.
Second, it encourages open communication and group deliberation, which are cornerstones of
ethical leadership. Paraprofessionals can arrive at a well-considered and ethical course of action
by including others in the decision-making process. Conclusion
Ethical quandaries are an inevitable aspect of the landscape in the complex and ever-
changing profession of treating substance use disorders (SUD). Paraprofessionals providing care
and assistance to people with addiction must make complex judgements that balance ethical
considerations, client welfare, and programme rigour. The importance of a holistic strategy for
treating SUDs has been evident throughout our investigation of ethical decision-making. The
foundation of ethical practice is a firm grasp of and adherence to the ethical boundaries discussed
here. Furthermore, a systematic and principled framework for addressing complex ethical
challenges can be found in adhering to a structured ethical decision-making process. The desire
to consult with a superior demonstrates dedication to morally doing the right thing.
Paraprofessionals maintain ethical rigour, openness, and responsibility in their decision-making
through consulting with superiors and interdisciplinary teams.
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References
An, Q., Lin, X., Sang, Z., & Qian, M. (2023). The practice of common ethical standards in
counselling and psychotherapy in mainland China. Ethics & Behavior
, 33
(3), 183-192.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2022.2118120
Hill, J. C., Stokes, L. E., Froelich, R. J., Emmanuel, D., Landon, T., & Hicks, S. (2023). Ethical
dilemmas: Current and projected concerns reported by certified rehabilitation counsellors.
Rehabilitation
Counseling
Bulletin
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00343552221146159.
https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552221146159
Ignatowicz, A., Slowther, A. M., Bassford, C., Griffiths, F., Johnson, S., & Rees, K. (2023).
Evaluating interventions to improve ethical decision making in clinical practice: a review
of the literature and reflections on the challenges posed. Journal of Medical Ethics
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(2),
136–142. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2021-107966
McIntosh, T., Antes, A. L., & DuBois, J. M. (2020). Navigating Complex, Ethical Problems in
Professional Life: A Guide to Teaching SMART Strategies for Decision-Making. Journal
of Academic Ethics
. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-020-09369-y
Varkey, B. (2021). Principles of clinical ethics and their application to practice. Medical
Principles and Practice
, 30
(1), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509119
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