California Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) Law and Ethics exam

If a client expresses concern that a new spouse might affect their inheritance, what is the legal obligation of the social worker?

1. You must assess for elder abuse, considering undue influence regarding mother's estate

2. You should refer the client to an attorney to determine if he has a case

3. Maintain confidentiality because you do not know the age of the mother

4. Report elder abuse considering abandonment because he has very little contact with his mother

The correct answer is: Maintain confidentiality because you do not know the age of the mother

The legal obligation of the social worker in this scenario primarily revolves around the principles of confidentiality and client trust. Maintaining confidentiality is crucial, especially when a client shares personal concerns regarding family dynamics and financial issues. Social workers are bound by ethical and legal requirements to protect the privacy of their clients, which includes not disclosing information that a client shares unless there is a clear and immediate risk of harm to the client or others. In this case, the concern about how a new spouse may impact inheritance does not, on its face value, suggest any immediate risk of danger or abuse. Without further information that would indicate a situation involving elder abuse or undue influence, the social worker's role is to create a safe space for the client to discuss their concerns without fearing that their confidentiality will be breached. Though there may be obligations related to reporting elder abuse or undue influence, those would be contingent on concrete evidence or suspicion of such scenarios. The social worker is tasked with gathering all pertinent information to assess the situation appropriately. Hence, in the absence of clear indicators of abuse, maintaining confidentiality is the appropriate course of action in this scenario.