One of the most controversial issues related to the use of spiritually-based social work interventions is the use of prayer by practitioners. The current study explores prayer-related activities and related decision making among a random sample of 204 licensed clinical social workers in a mid-Atlantic state in the United States. A substantial percentage of practitioners report praying for (55%) or praying/meditating with their clients (33%). Furthermore, practitioner responses to four clinical vignettes, reflecting Canda's (1990) suggested ethical guidelines for practitioner behavior, reveal that the majority do not adhere to such guidelines–-either in terms of personal comfort with the use of prayer or views about its ethical use. Implications for practitioners, administrators, and educators are presented.
Restricted access to assisted reproductive technology and fertility preservation in a “universal” public health system: legal and ethical issues