Using the revised NASW Code of Ethics as a framework, From the Front Lines: Student Cases in Social Work Ethics outlines the elements of ethical decision-making to provide social work and human professionals in all settings with a clear guide to ethical problem recognition, definition, and solution. Integrated and contextualized cases throughout the book encourage develop an awareness of the impact of ethical issues at all levels of social work practice.

Examples drawn from child welfare, work with families, medical social work, social justice, and others, promote thoughtful evaluation and decision-making. Rothman stresses the importance of gathering necessary information and presents three alternative, frequently-used systems of theories and principles (Gewirth's Ethical Principles Hierarchy, Loewenberg and Dolgoff's Ethical Principles Screen, and Beauchamp and Childress' Bioethics Model).