An ethical dilemma is making a decision between choices that may seem to benefit a family but may otherwise violate agency rules and professional boundaries.

An ethical dilemma is making a decision between choices that may seem to benefit a family but may otherwise violate agency rules and professional boundaries.

• A. It is a straightforward decision that clearly aligns with agency policy.
• B. It has only one legal solution.
• C. It involves choices that may benefit a family but violate rules.
• D. It never involves professional boundaries.

Answer: (C)

Facing an ethical dilemma means balancing competing obligations: wanting to help the family and wanting to follow agency policies and maintain professional boundaries. This item captures that tension by describing choices that could benefit the family but would violate rules. In CPRS work, keeping boundaries intact protects client autonomy, prevents dual relationships, and preserves trust, so choices that seem helpful but breach these standards are the core issue of an ethical dilemma. The other options describe scenarios that don’t reflect that tension: a straightforward, policy-aligned decision isn’t a dilemma; claiming there’s only one legal solution ignores the ethical aspect; and saying professional boundaries aren’t involved misses the central point that boundaries are what the dilemma is about.

Facing an ethical dilemma means balancing competing obligations: wanting to help the family and wanting to follow agency policies and maintain professional boundaries. This item captures that tension by describing choices that could benefit the family but would violate rules. In CPRS work, keeping boundaries intact protects client autonomy, prevents dual relationships, and preserves trust, so choices that seem helpful but breach these standards are the core issue of an ethical dilemma. The other options describe scenarios that don’t reflect that tension: a straightforward, policy-aligned decision isn’t a dilemma; claiming there’s only one legal solution ignores the ethical aspect; and saying professional boundaries aren’t involved misses the central point that boundaries are what the dilemma is about.