Ethics Case Study B AgingInPlace

OT 511- Personal Advocacy & Leadership
Week 7
Case from Scott, J.B. & Reitz, S.M. (2013). Practical applications for the occupational therapy Code of
Ethics Standards. Chapter 2: Productive Aging, p 141-142.
1
Leadership/Ethics Case Study B:
Balancing Ethical Obligations to Enable Aging in Place
Instructions:
Review the provided case study. Complete the questions listed below as well as the
Ethical Outcome Grid
Ethical Dilemma Case Study:
Marcie, a 61-year-old wife, mother, and grandmother, is an occupational therapist
working in a community-based senior center. Her duties included program evaluation and
planning, group leadership, and client advocacy with community agencies. Her husband,
Stephen, is 66 and became disabled after sustaining a left-sided stroke while playing tennis.
Marcie was now the primary breadwinner for the family. Her position at the senior center
required that she work a flexible schedule that included weekends when the center offered
special events. Stephen began attending the center to be near his wife and to have mealtime
supervision, opportunities for social engagement, and limited physical activity. The senior
center context met both Marcie’s and Stephen’s needs.
After a few months, Stephen’s dependence on Marcie began to have a negative impact
on her work performance. Stephen wanted Marcie to have lunch with him each day, go with
him on center outings, and help him perform some of his ADLs. He asked to be assigned to
Marcie’s groups so that he could spend more time with her. If Marcie attended to all of
Stephen’s needs, she would not have had time to fulfill her job responsibilities. Marcie was torn
between the duties she owed in her position at the senior center and her husband.
#1: Identify at least 2 specific ethical dilemmas facing Marcie and describe here.
1.
2.
#2: List at least 4 options that Marcie has for addressing this ethical situation and what are the
possible positive and negative outcomes/consequences of each option? Complete grid below
including ethical principles to explain your answers.

OT 511- Personal Advocacy & Leadership
Week 7
Case from Scott, J.B. & Reitz, S.M. (2013). Practical applications for the occupational therapy Code of
Ethics Standards. Chapter 2: Productive Aging, p 141-142.
2
#3: Which of the options for action would you recommend Marcie take? Provide rationale
including support from the AOTA Code of Ethics.
Ethical Outcomes Grid
Possible Action #1:
Positive Outcomes
Negative Outcomes
Possible Action #2:
Positive Outcomes
Negative Outcomes
Possible Action #3:
Positive Outcomes
Negative Outcomes
Possible Action #4:
Positive Outcomes
Negative Outcomes