Law and Ethics in Social Work/Mental Health Practice (Part 1)

NASW California

• provides an analysis of the legal grounds for malpractice litigation as related to the issue of standard of care and scope of practice;


• outlines the essential components of legal proceedings such as subpoenas, depositions, issues of client confidentiality, privileged communication pertaining to the conduct of casework, individual, couple, family, and group therapy/counseling;


• analyzes the relationship between ethics and the law and offers a framework in the management of ethical dilemmas related to relationships with clients, colleagues, and employers;


• provides understanding of the relationship between moral values, social work values and the management of liability risk;


• offers a brief discussion of the “Patriot Act” and its impact on patient’s right and privacy; and


• discusses the “Tarasoff” rule involving “duty to warn” and the elaboration of this rule by courts and statute after this case was decided.