Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:425-429
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Tarasoff and the clinician: problems in fulfilling the duty to protect
PS Appelbaum
The obligation to protect potential victims of one's patients, as first
described in the California Tarasoff case, is being endorsed by an
increasing number of jurisdictions. Although problematic in many respects,
it has become a factor that must be dealt with in routine clinical
interactions. The author presents a three-part model of the Tarasoff
obligation--identifying the requirements of assessment, selection of a
course of action, and implementation--and illustrates with case examples
the mistakes that clinicians commonly make at each of these stages.
Guidelines are suggested for a reasonable approach to dealing with the
Tarasoff doctrine.
