Psychotherapist's Duty to Protect, A
Loading...
Authors
Wolven, Melanee L.
Issue Date
1992
Volume
25
Issue
Type
Journal Article
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
INTRODUCTION|Psychotherapists owe a duty to protect endangered third persons from unreasonable risk of harm posed by potentially dangerous patients. This duty to protect includes the duty to take several precautionary measures. Two important measures pertain to the duty to warn and the duty to confine. Both of these duties raise serious ethical considerations. A warning to endangered third persons may breach psychotherapist-patient confidentiality; confinement may cause deprivation of personal liberty. Often, psychotherapists must balance the interest of the public against the patient's interest in confidentiality and effective treatment. Not surprisingly, psychotherapists seek legal advice from the American Psychiatric Association most often on the issue of the "duty to protect," which includes both the duty to warn and the duty to confine...
Description
Citation
25 Creighton L. Rev. 1461 (1991-1992)
Publisher
Creighton University School of Law