Women, Ethics, and Options

Dear members,

During the past month I have questioned what would happen to our clients and profession if the 14^th Amendment to the Constitution vanished, taking with it the Due Process Clause that speaks of the “right to privacy”. I have also been considering what would happen to our clients if HIPPA, which also protects access to medical records, a client’s right to privacy, and release of records was used selectively. Next, I questioned what would occur within our profession if we eliminated from our Code of Ethics a client’s right to self-determination. These are critical topics for us to discuss with our colleagues and mentors and legislators attempt to make sweeping changes to women’s health across the country.

So why am I thinking about these issues? The reason is that Roe v. Wade is connected to these critical issues that protect our most vulnerable people, as well as assure that they have the privacy to make decisions about their bodies.  Specifically, they relate to women seeking safe abortion.

NASW-Michigan does not take a position specifically on abortion; however, the organization does take an ethical stand on assuring that women seeking abortion have a right to choose the safest procedure possible and we oppose any legislation that would undue a woman’s right to make sound decisions about her body. In addition, we oppose doing away with safe, sanitary, and professional clinics where abortions are handled by a professional, and confidentiality is protected.

Historically, we know that before Roe v. Wade women were sometimes forced to alter their own pregnancies using coat hangers, toxic medication, or by going to hidden places where abortions were performed in unsanitary conditions. Many of the women developed infections, critical bleeding, and some lost their lives. We must realize that a woman is so much more than a womb for a fetus. If the woman dies so does the fetus and her death is a loss to our society as well. It is important to recognize that abortion is NOT a method of birth control or family planning as is often the concern of individuals wanting to do away with Roe v. Wade. Abortions often occur because of rape, incest, and significant health issues for the mother and infant if carried to term.  It also must be remembered that women who do choose to have an abortion also experience trauma and feelings of psychological distress. And as long as social worker’s ethical responsibility remains in helping those most vulnerable in society, we cannot ignore the huge racial and health disparities connected to maternal death rates.

So, what makes sense? It makes good sense to provide a woman with all options, including the right to a safe and professional abortion. It makes sense to share information about the possibility of adoptions or assistance to help raise her child. It makes sense to listen to the woman and support her right to whatever she wishes to do and not show bias. It makes sense to support agencies/organizations that offer quality health care and support reproductive rights (including Planned Parenthood).

What we must fight against is an overturning of Roe v. Wade and the right for a woman to make choices about her body and health care. Roe v. Wade has protected the lives of many women and families across the United States. It does not make sense to put a woman at risk for a dangerous abortion when we know that safe methods exist.

NASW takes the following stances as an organization: (this can be found in Social Work Speaks)

• Supports legislation to ensure that women who have been sexually assaulted have access to emergency contraception.
• Opposes government restrictions designed to limit access to reproductive health services, including abortion services.
• Opposes government restrictions on financing reproductive health services, including abortion services, in health insurance and foreign aid programs.

I urge you to consider what may happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned and I urge you to protect a woman’s right to chose what is best for her. I urge you to support a woman in her decision making and make sure she has all the information that is needed to make a sound and healthy decision. I also urge you to not let your bias (in either direction) stand in the way of helping your client(s) make informed and healthy decisions.

We are social workers, and it is important to protect our clients and assure that our women clients have the right to privacy and to self-determination. It is important to protect the agencies that can provide the safest options for women regardless of their decisions.

Whether you agree with what I have written, I encourage you to talk to colleagues and to contact NASW-Michigan for further discussion. I understand that some of us are from a faith background that means we cannot take neutral positions. My hope is that if this is true for any social worker that you explain this to your clients and offer to refer the client to an agency that can support and provide your client with options that align with what the client wishes.

Maxine Thome, PhD, LMSW, ACSW, MPH

Executive Director. NASW-Michigan