Question of the week

Confidentiality

Ethical Principles and Responsibilities

Privilege, unlike confidentiality, is:

Option A. Incorrect answer. a duty the social worker owes throughout the relationship
Option B. Incorrect answer. a protection the agency can waive on the client's behalf
Option C. Correct answer. a rule of evidence that belongs to the client, not to youCorrect

Why

Privilege is narrower than the other two words it gets confused with. It is a rule of evidence that keeps certain communications out of legal proceedings, it belongs to the client, and the client can waive it where you cannot. A describes confidentiality, which is your duty not to reveal what you learn inside the professional relationship. B puts the waiver in the agency's hands, and it is not the agency's to give. Whether privilege exists at all depends on your jurisdiction and your licence, so it is one more thing to check locally rather than assume.