Posted on 01/04/2017 5:26:14 AM PST by tired&retired
What Is My Duty to Warn?
A Washington state Supreme Court decision appears to significantly broaden the duty that psychiatrists and other mental health professionals in that state have to protect and warn potential victims of violence by a patient under their care.
In Volk v. De Meerleer, the Washington state Supreme Court expanded the so-called Tarasoff standard regarding a mental health professional’s duty to protect and warn a third party of possible violence, asserting that the duty extends to any possible victim—even one that has not been specifically identified by the patient.
The ruling applies only to clinicians in Washington state. Although other states could conceivably adopt a simila
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.