ABSTRACT
The study of decision making is a cross disciplinary enterprise with many different perspectives. Given an assumption that humans are rational beings, ideal decision making may be defined as including consideration of all options and possible consequences before the decision is made. However, the limits on human rationality have long been recognized. ‘Clients’ is right to self-determination is a key social work value’. The importance of self-determination is ensconced in the Code of Ethics and recognised in every sphere of social work activity. In hospital settings it has become an issue for discussion because of the constraints placed on patients and families in the decision making process, particularly in relation to discharge planning. In a service industry like social work the use of resources is predominantly a matter of use of social workers’ time. The major expenditures for social work intervention are the salaries paid to the social workers and social work administrators.
