Confidentiality in crisis counseling: a philosophical perspective.
Crisis interventionists frequently confront a moral dilemma when violating client trust seems necessary if self-destructive behavior is to be prevented. Two fundamental moral values conflict in such cases: concern for client welfare and respect for client rights and autonomy. Each of these values is grounded in one of two important Western ethical traditions: Utilitarianism and Kantian Formalism, respectively. Following critical examination of each of these theories, attention is given to a series of hypothetical cases involving the confidentiality dilemma.
D003219:Confidentiality; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D028663:Ethical Theory; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D006801:Humans; D028681:Moral Obligations; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D028723:Personhood; D010684:Philosophy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D035502:Trust; D000092864:Suicide Prevention