In ethical decision making, which framework helps prioritize client welfare, self-determination, and social justice?

• A. A client-centered ethics framework
• B. Bioethics framework
• C. Risk management framework
• D. The NASW Code of Ethics

Answer: (D)

In ethical decision making for social work, the framework that explicitly ties client welfare, self-determination, and social justice is the NASW Code of Ethics. It centers on core values such as service, dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, and especially social justice, and translates them into standards that require promoting client welfare, honoring clients’ autonomy, and advocating for equitable treatment and access to resources. This code guides decisions across practice contexts, helping you weigh competing obligations (like confidentiality versus safety) while staying aligned with professional responsibilities to clients and communities. The other options don’t package these three priorities together in a single professional framework: a client-centered ethics approach emphasizes client preferences and rapport but not the broader social justice mandate; a bioethics framework is more medical and general; risk management focuses on reducing liability rather than advancing client welfare and social justice.