Read the vignette and analyze the potential ethical/legal issues reflected in the vignettes, and comment on the availability of options for each of the therapists depicted in the vignettes. How would you have handled these situations?
Vignette 2
Howard is a licensed clinical social worker with a very busy private practice. Howard’s office manager, Susan, is an extremely competent individual who performs her job with great skill. One day Susan informed Howard that she would have to take a leave of absence from her position immediately due to an emergency in her family. Due to the nature of the emergency, Susan states that she will probably be unable to return to work for several months or longer. Howard is caught off-guard and is understandably worried about the prospects of finding a qualified replacement for Susan in so little time. To make matters worse, he seriously doubts that Susan will ever return to her job. After a few days, at the point that Howard is beginning to feel overwhelmed, a solution seems to drop into his lap. Ann, one of Howard’s current patients, informs Howard that she knows someone who would be “perfect” for the vacant office manager job. Surprisingly, the person that Ann recommends is actually a former patient of Howard’s by the name of Tara. Howard knows Tara well, having treated her for almost two years. He recalls that Tara is a very bright and responsible person and that she probably would be perfect for the job. Although Tara completed therapy with Howard about six months ago, he still has her file in his office cabinet. Howard recognizes that this is an important decision. Consequently, after giving it some very serious thought, Howard called Tara the following day and offered her the job.
