Post one ethical conflict you might encounter as an advanced human services professional practitioner in a leadership position. Then, describe at least one ethical standard that would apply to the conflict, and explain how the standard would guide your decision making to resolve the conflict.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Balancing Confidentiality and Organizational Transparency in Leadership Roles: An Ethical Conflict in Human Services
Introduction:
As advanced human services professionals in leadership positions, we often find ourselves facing complex ethical dilemmas. One such conflict arises when we must strike a balance between maintaining client confidentiality and ensuring organizational transparency. In this essay, we will explore how this ethical conflict can arise, identify the applicable ethical standard, and discuss how it can guide decision-making to resolve such conflicts.
Ethical Conflict: Confidentiality vs. Organizational Transparency
In the field of human services, practitioners frequently work with individuals who disclose sensitive and personal information during the course of their interactions. As a leader in this field, you may be privy to confidential information about clients, which is crucial for providing appropriate support and guidance. However, as a leader, you are also responsible for ensuring organizational transparency to maintain trust among staff, stakeholders, and the public.
Applicable Ethical Standard: Respect for Confidentiality
The ethical standard that applies to this conflict is “respect for confidentiality.” This standard acknowledges the importance of safeguarding the privacy and trust of clients by keeping their personal information confidential. It is a fundamental principle in human services professions, guiding practitioners to treat client information with utmost care and avoid disclosing it without proper consent or legal obligations.
Guiding Decision-Making: Balancing Confidentiality and Transparency
To resolve the ethical conflict between maintaining confidentiality and promoting organizational transparency, several steps can be taken:
Establish Clear Policies and Procedures:
As a leader, develop comprehensive policies and procedures that outline the handling of confidential information within your organization. Ensure that staff members are aware of these guidelines and receive regular training to reinforce their importance.
Obtain Informed Consent:
Prioritize obtaining informed consent from clients regarding the disclosure of their information within the organization. Clearly explain the purpose and potential consequences of sharing their information within the organization, emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidentiality while balancing the need for transparency.
Anonymous Case Studies:
When discussing client cases within the organization or with external stakeholders, present them as anonymous case studies to protect client confidentiality. This allows for sharing valuable insights while maintaining privacy.
Need-to-Know Principle:
Adhere to the “need-to-know” principle when sharing confidential information with staff or other parties involved in providing support to the client. Share only the necessary details required for effective collaboration while respecting the boundaries of confidentiality.
Secure Information Management Systems:
Implement robust information management systems and data protection measures to ensure that confidential client information remains secure within the organization. Regularly review and update these systems to stay abreast of advancements in data security.
Ethical Consultation:
Seek ethical consultation from peers or professional bodies when faced with particularly challenging conflicts. Their insights can provide guidance on how to navigate complex situations while upholding ethical principles.
Conclusion:
As advanced human services professionals in leadership roles, maintaining the delicate balance between client confidentiality and organizational transparency is an ongoing ethical challenge. By adhering to the ethical standard of respect for confidentiality, establishing clear policies and procedures, obtaining informed consent, using anonymous case studies, following the need-to-know principle, implementing secure information management systems, and seeking ethical consultation when needed, leaders can navigate this ethical conflict effectively. Ultimately, by prioritizing both confidentiality and transparency, we can ensure that our organizations maintain trust and provide quality care to those we serve.
