Ethical Dilemma

1. Possible courses of action

1.1. The OT can ignore the signs

1.2. The OT could report this to the social worker

1.3. The OT can confront the patient's daughter

1.4. The OT can tell the patient that this is a safe space and if there is something going on she can and will get help

2. Situation

2.1. A patient has met all of her goals but does not want to go home. The OT supports this idea as she is impressed by her success, until she has her Caregiver training.The OT comes to realize the patient’s daughter (who lives with her and would be her primary care provider) shows signs of verbal abuse and aggressiveness to her mother. You suspect that this may be the reason why your client does not want to go home, however the client refuses to acknowledge her daughter verbally abuses or is aggressive towards her on a regular basis. The OT must decide what would be the proper next steps for her patient as the days of her therapy being covered by insurance are dwindling.

3. Stakeholders

3.1. The Patient

3.2. The Patient's Daughter

4. Core values

4.1. Alturism

4.2. Justice

4.3. Dignity

4.4. Prudence

5. Ethical Prinicples

5.1. Beneficence

5.2. Autonomy

5.3. Fidelity

6. How to have difficult conversations:

6.1. Be present

6.2. Use open ended questions

6.3. legitimize the losses that the person is experiencing