Four Sanctioned in Ethics Cases
The Executive Committee revoked the violators' memberships in
NASW.
The NASW Board of Directors' Executive Committee in January sanctioned
four social workers found to have violated the association's Code
of Ethics.
Roy S. Adonay of Guam was found to be in violation of two sections
of the code. The Executive Committee found that Adonay took unfair
advantage of his professional relationship with a client in a
nursing home when he assumed the role of representative payee
and durable power of attorney for the client. The nursing home
staff reported that the benefits deposited were not made available
for the client's use.
Adonay did not respond to attempts by the Department of Health
and Social Services to participate in a discovery process.
Adonay violated Code of Ethics sections 1.06(b)(c) Conflicts
of Interest and 4.04 Dishonesty, Fraud and Deception. Because
Adonay failed to comply with the National Ethics Committee recommendations
for corrective action, the Executive Committee authorized the
publication of his name in the "Sanctions
in Force" list for five years and revoked his NASW membership.
Robert Howell of Idaho was found in violation of code section
6.04 Social and Political Action. Documentation from the District
Court for the District of Idaho showed that Howell possessed and
viewed sexually explicit images of minor children engaging in
sexual behavior on his job site computer in Boise, Idaho. Howell
was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
The Executive Committee reviewed the complaint submitted by the
Idaho Chapter and approved the revocation of Howell's NASW membership
and credentials and authorized the one-time publication of his
name in the "Sanctions
in Force" list.
The Executive Committee reviewed a complaint submitted by the
Connecticut Chapter and found Fenton Henrickson in violation of
three sections of the Code of Ethics. Henrickson engaged in a
physical relationship with a client, who later resided in his
home. He also bought gifts and paid for trips for the client.
Henrickson violated code sections 1.06(c) Conflicts of Interest,
1.09(a)(c) Sexual Relationships, and 1.10 Physical Contact. The
Executive Committee revoked his membership and credentials and
authorized the publication of his name in the "Sanctions
in Force" list for 10 years.
Robert White of Oregon violated six sections of the code. He
was charged with 81 felony counts involving billing federal health
care programs for services that he did not render. He was sentenced
to 30 months in prison and has agreed to pay the full restitution
of $169,620.59. He agreed to permanently surrender his clinical
social work license.
Finding that White violated code section 1.01 Commitment to Clients,
1.06(b) Conflicts of Interest, 1.13(a) Payment for Services, 3.05
Billing, 4.04 Dishonesty, Fraud and Deception, and 5.01 Integrity
of the Profession, the Executive Committee permanently revoked
White's NASW membership and credentials and authorized the publication
of his name in the "Sanctions
in Force" list for 10 years.
For NASW ethics program information: www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/
From May 2006 NASW News. © 2006 National
Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. NASW News
articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of
copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies
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