The Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Medical Social Workers during Rationing of Short-Term Admission for SMID

Abstract

  This study aims to clarify the ethical dilemmas faced by Medical Social Workers (MSW) during rationing of short-term admission for Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities (SMID). I participated in this affair for one year as MSW. I show that MSW can fall into an ethical dilemma between＜justice＞and＜care＞through this affair. MSW confront problems aiming at increase of well-being of each client rooted in the human rights and the social justice. The sympathy, which is the core of clinical ethics, is necessary to a client. The basis of sympathy to a client is compassion/Mitleid to vulnerability. MSW will build a relationship to each client on the basis of mutual trust. However, it is hard to make＜care＞compatible with＜justice＞. Then MSW fall into an ethical dilemma. Care conferences and case consideration can inspect the standard of the justice and the individual validity of care. This process contributes to procedure-like justice.