Problem
Read and answer the following in complete sentences.
Rupinder has been working as a counselor at a women's shelter in Vancouver for the past seven years. The women's shelter was established by Coastal health and Qmmunity (BC's Queer Resource Centre) to serve lesbian and transgendered women who have faced (or are facing) physical abuse and sexual assault. In therapy, Rupinder had been counselling a self-identified lesbian client for several months; the client's name is Mei. They had been making good progress and Mei was gaining some wonderful insights into her history of failed relationships with other partners, e.g., abusive relationships, controlling relationships, and drug-fueled relationships.
One day, Mei comes in for her session with a little smile on her face. She sits down and immediately starts talking to Rupinder (the counselor) about this new young woman she met the other day, Jerry. She's already been out on a couple of dates with her, she says, and things are going quite well. She really thinks she's made some improvement in her ability at finding a partner who is truly caring. As she describes Jerry in more detail and how she feels when she is with her, Rupinder notices an uneasy feeling that starts in her head, travelling down to her abdomen, before finally settling as a definite sinking feeling in her stomach. Something has made her feel very uneasy about Mei's new relationship with Jerry.
Upon the conclusion of her session with Mei, Rupinder begins to think that Jerry seems familiar to her. She reviews her case notes wondering whether or not she had worked with Jerry before. And after much searching, and as she suspected, she had - Jerry used to be a client of Rupinder's some two years ago.
Rupinder's heart is filled with worry. From her review of her case notes, she recalls that Jerry had significant trouble with depression and anxiety; refused to acknowledge these issues; and refused to address them in therapy. Complicating matters, Jerry had also been shown to have some issues with the use of drugs, e.g., cocaine use once or twice a month. Worse, there was a special mention in the case notes that indicated Jerry had once been charged with a felony - physically assaulting an ex-girlfriend.
Leaning back in her office chair, Rupinder weighs her obligations. She wonders if she should tell Mei about Jerry's past behaviour. But if so, would not that breach Jerry's confidentiality? The more she reviews the case notes of Jerry, the more she is unsure of what to do.
Required
A. List all of the individuals and/or groups present within this vignette. Indicate any relevant characteristics, rights, and interests of these individuals and/or groups.
B. What are the ethically relevant issues present in this vignette?
C. Suggest alternative courses of action that would address the ethically relevant issues you have identified in this vignette.
D. What are the risks associated with each of the alternative courses of action you have suggested?
E. What are the benefits associated with each of the alternative courses of action you have suggested?