title: Toward a more holistic understanding of ethics in social work.
abstract: This paper explores alternative approaches to ethical understanding in social work by applying them to a story of a young woman with AIDS. After presenting the story, I present four perspectives on ethical discernment: the principles approach, virtue ethics, feminist ethics and Afrocentricity. Each approach raises different questions and issues regarding the situation. Together they provide a more holistic discussion and analysis of social work values, beliefs and ethical positions.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Rutgers University, Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abramson
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D012935:Social Justice; D012945:Social Values; D012947:Social Work; D014933:Women's Rights