Explore the history of the helping professions and identify at least one time when someone was asked to do something unethical and they responded in an ethical way. What was the end result? If they did not respond in an ethical way, what was the end result? How do these examples help you consider your professional ethics? Cite your sources
Exploring the History of the Helping Professions: Ethics in Action
The helping professions—such as social work, counseling, psychology, and nursing—have long histories rooted in service, compassion, and advocacy for those in need. From the early efforts of religious and charitable organizations to the modern-day mental health and medical services, the core principle guiding these professions has always been ethical responsibility. However, history has also presented challenging moments when professionals were asked to act unethically. The responses to such requests—ethical or not—offer critical lessons for today’s practitioners.
One striking historical example involves whistleblower and social worker Jeanette Rankin, who is better known as the first woman elected to the United States Congress but also worked extensively in social reform. While not always classified as a social worker by trade, Rankin dedicated her career to social justice and often functioned within helping roles. During World War I, she was one of the few in a position of influence who opposed the war, despite public and political pressure to conform. Though her stance was unpopular, she held fast to her ethical conviction that war was incompatible with humanitarian values. Her refusal to support the war effort, while ethical from her pacifist viewpoint, led to political isolation and criticism but ultimately cemented her legacy as a principled leader (Ware, 2013).
Another notable and more clinical example is Dr. Albert Schweitzer, a physician and humanitarian who operated in Africa during the early 20th century. Schweitzer was repeatedly asked to engage in colonial health initiatives that dehumanized African populations or were based on unethical experimentation. He refused to participate in such practices, choosing instead to offer care with respect and dignity. Though he faced obstacles in funding and resources, his ethical stance inspired future global health initiatives that emphasized respect for cultural values and human rights (Marshall, 2014).
In contrast, the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study offers a harrowing example of unethical behavior by helping professionals. Conducted between 1932 and 1972 by the U.S. Public Health Service, the study involved deceiving African American men into thinking they were receiving treatment for syphilis when they were not. Medical professionals involved in the study failed to obtain informed consent and allowed participants to suffer, even after effective treatment (penicillin) became available. The end result was a massive breach of trust in the medical community and long-lasting harm to African American communities (Jones, 1993). This unethical behavior led to new federal regulations, including the establishment of institutional review boards (IRBs), to protect research participants.
These contrasting examples deeply influence how we understand professional ethics today. As someone entering the helping professions, I am reminded that ethical integrity often requires courage and may come at personal or professional cost. Upholding ethical standards like honesty, respect, nonmaleficence, and justice is essential—not only for the welfare of clients but for maintaining trust in our professions. Learning from those who have modeled ethical strength, as well as from the failings of others, strengthens our own commitment to doing what is right, even under pressure.
In conclusion, the history of the helping professions is filled with moments that test ethical resolve. Whether individuals responded ethically or not, the outcomes of their decisions shaped the standards and expectations we have today. Their stories serve as both cautionary tales and inspirational models, reminding current and future professionals that ethical practice is not optional—it is the very foundation of our work.
References
Jones, J. H. (1993). Bad blood: The Tuskegee syphilis experiment. Free Press.
Marshall, M. (2014). Albert Schweitzer: Reverence for life. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Ware, S. (2013). Beyond suffrage: Women in the new deal. Harvard University Press.