Abandonment or autonomy: How do social workers know the difference?

The Adult Guardianship Act proclaimed in British Columbia in 2000 was a legal response that provides a mandate for designated agencies to look into reports of vulnerable adults who are abused, neglected, or self neglected. Important guiding principles are embedded in the legislation intended to safeguard the principal of autonomy. This legislation requires designated agency staff to be simultaneously responsible for the mandate to care for vulnerable adults who are experiencing abuse, neglect, or self neglect and to uphold the principle of the right to autonomy. This qualitative research study describes the experiences and decisions social workers encounter in adult guardianship practice with older adults, particularly as it relates to the ethical dimensions of the practice. Results suggest that social workers look for and find ways to balance support for both autonomy and care by improvising ethical jazz. Questions were raised about the viability of integrating adult protection and health care. --P. ii.