Confidentiality vs. mandated reporting of child abuse: a social work research dilemma

Abstract

The tension between protecting the privacy rights of a respondent and the legally mandated obligation to report suspicion of child abuse confronts the researcher with a dilemma: to breach confidentiality is unethical; to not report is illegal. Example cases are presented in which the reporting of suspected child abuse breaches respondent confidentiality. The argument is advanced that the decision to breach confidentiality may well lead to: self-censorship by researchers, lack of candor by respondents, suppressed survey response rates, interviewer deception, oppression of disempowered groups, and impairment of the self-correcting aspects of disciplined inquiry.