Ethical Considerations for Maintaining Confidentiality
When handling situations that could potentially result in unethical or unlawful behavior, it is
critical to be mindful of the accepted code of ethics within the human services field and the laws
that apply to the role of the provider. When confronted with an ethically ambiguous situation, a
human services professional should never hesitate to refer to the National Organization for
Human Services (NOHS) Code of Ethics and review the Standard that applies to the ethical
dilemma. Regarding privacy and disclosure, referring to the NOHS’s Code of Ethics, the
applicable standards to this case are:
Standard 2: Human service professionals protect the client's right to privacy and
confidentiality except when such confidentiality would cause serious harm to the client or
others, when agency guidelines state otherwise, or under other stated conditions [e.g.,
local, state, or federal laws]. Human service professionals inform clients of the limits of
confidentiality prior to the onset of the helping relationship (National Organization for
Human Services, 2024).
Standard 3: Human service professionals protect the client's right to privacy and
confidentiality except when such confidentiality would cause serious harm to the client or
others, when agency guidelines state otherwise, or under other stated conditions (e.g.,
local, state, or federal laws). Human service professionals inform clients of the limits of
confidentiality prior to the onset of the helping relationship (National Organization for
Human Services, 2024).
Standard 8: Human service professionals are responsible for safeguarding the integrity,
safety, and security of client records. Client information, whether in written or electronic
form, can only be shared with other professionals with the client's prior written consent,
, unless required or allowed by law or during professional supervision (National
Organization for Human Services, 2024).
Standard 9 (When providing services through the use of technology, human service
professionals take precautions to ensure and maintain confidentiality and comply with all
relevant laws and requirements regarding storing, transmitting, and retrieving data. In
addition, human service professionals ensure that clients are aware of any issues and
concerns related to confidentiality, service issues, and how technology might negatively
or positively impact the helping relationship (National Organization for Human Services,
2024).
Suggestions for working through an ethical dilemma alongside consulting the NOHS’s Code
of Ethics include identifying the ethical concern, what issues are associated with this concern,
and discussing this ethical issue with coworkers to gain their perspective on the situation. When
determining how to resolve this issue, it is advised to consider multiple ways to work through
this issue, what the potential outcomes of the solutions would be, possible consequences to each
possible solution, and enacting the best approach to resolving the ethical issue based on the
options that have been proposed (Corey et. al., 2019). When faced with an ethical dilemma, it’s
also crucial to involve the client in this process. The client’s well-being is intwined with the
resolution the provider decides on, making it important for the client to input their thoughts on
the situation. The client’s involvement in this case increases the likelihood of the most productive
and effective outcome being chosen and can strengthen the client-provider relationship (Corey et.
al., 2019).
Outside of maintaining privacy and keeping client information protected, another
potential cause for ethical concerns while working in a human services role at a hospital would
When handling situations that could potentially result in unethical or unlawful behavior, it is
critical to be mindful of the accepted code of ethics within the human services field and the laws
that apply to the role of the provider. When confronted with an ethically ambiguous situation, a
human services professional should never hesitate to refer to the National Organization for
Human Services (NOHS) Code of Ethics and review the Standard that applies to the ethical
dilemma. Regarding privacy and disclosure, referring to the NOHS’s Code of Ethics, the
applicable standards to this case are:
Standard 2: Human service professionals protect the client's right to privacy and
confidentiality except when such confidentiality would cause serious harm to the client or
others, when agency guidelines state otherwise, or under other stated conditions [e.g.,
local, state, or federal laws]. Human service professionals inform clients of the limits of
confidentiality prior to the onset of the helping relationship (National Organization for
Human Services, 2024).
Standard 3: Human service professionals protect the client's right to privacy and
confidentiality except when such confidentiality would cause serious harm to the client or
others, when agency guidelines state otherwise, or under other stated conditions (e.g.,
local, state, or federal laws). Human service professionals inform clients of the limits of
confidentiality prior to the onset of the helping relationship (National Organization for
Human Services, 2024).
Standard 8: Human service professionals are responsible for safeguarding the integrity,
safety, and security of client records. Client information, whether in written or electronic
form, can only be shared with other professionals with the client's prior written consent,
, unless required or allowed by law or during professional supervision (National
Organization for Human Services, 2024).
Standard 9 (When providing services through the use of technology, human service
professionals take precautions to ensure and maintain confidentiality and comply with all
relevant laws and requirements regarding storing, transmitting, and retrieving data. In
addition, human service professionals ensure that clients are aware of any issues and
concerns related to confidentiality, service issues, and how technology might negatively
or positively impact the helping relationship (National Organization for Human Services,
2024).
Suggestions for working through an ethical dilemma alongside consulting the NOHS’s Code
of Ethics include identifying the ethical concern, what issues are associated with this concern,
and discussing this ethical issue with coworkers to gain their perspective on the situation. When
determining how to resolve this issue, it is advised to consider multiple ways to work through
this issue, what the potential outcomes of the solutions would be, possible consequences to each
possible solution, and enacting the best approach to resolving the ethical issue based on the
options that have been proposed (Corey et. al., 2019). When faced with an ethical dilemma, it’s
also crucial to involve the client in this process. The client’s well-being is intwined with the
resolution the provider decides on, making it important for the client to input their thoughts on
the situation. The client’s involvement in this case increases the likelihood of the most productive
and effective outcome being chosen and can strengthen the client-provider relationship (Corey et.
al., 2019).
Outside of maintaining privacy and keeping client information protected, another
potential cause for ethical concerns while working in a human services role at a hospital would
