Question

You are a youth worker attached to a local secondary college. Stephanie who is 18 years old comes to talk to you about recent events that have upset her. You know that Stephanie is doing ok academically despite having a minor learning difficulty. Stephanie’s life at home is difficult. Her parents are divorced, and her father has little involvement with her or her two brothers. She doesn’t get along well with her mother. He mother works full-time.

Stephanie tells you that she recently started a relationship with Zac who is one year younger than she is. A few weeks ago, she sent Zac some pictures of herself topless. Then over the weekend, she went to a party and Zac and his friends were there. She said that she had too much alcohol to drink. Zac took her outside with some of his friends and engaged in an intimate act with her while his friends filmed them. Stephanie is embarrassed and upset because the video has been sent around the school. She says Zac loves her and she loves him, and she still wants to be in a relationship with him. She firmly tells you that she doesn’t want her mother to know any of what she has told you.
what are the ethical dilemmas of this case?

Answer 1

There are several ethical dilemmas present in this case:

1. Confidentiality: Stephanie has told you that she doesn't want her mother to know about the situation. As a youth worker, you have a duty to maintain confidentiality, but you also have a duty to ensure that Stephanie is safe and protected. You need to find a way to balance these two obligations.

2. Consent: Stephanie may have consented to the intimate act with Zac, but she was under the influence of alcohol. When someone is intoxicated, they may not be capable of giving informed consent. Additionally, the fact that the act was filmed without her knowledge or consent raises further concerns about consent.

3. Privacy: Stephanie sent pictures of herself to Zac, assuming that he would keep them private. When they were shared without her consent, her privacy was violated.

4. Abuse of power: Zac and his friends took advantage of Stephanie's vulnerability and filmed the intimate act without her consent. This abuse of power raises concerns about bullying, coercion, and potential exploitation.

5. Duty of care: As a youth worker, you have a duty of care to ensure that Stephanie is safe and protected. You need to act in her best interests while also respecting her autonomy and privacy.

Step-by-step explanation: