What action fulfills a therapist's responsibility under the Tarasoff duty?

The Tarasoff duty refers to a therapist's legal and ethical obligation to protect individuals who are being threatened with harm by a client. When a therapist becomes aware of a credible threat against a specific person, they are required to take reasonable steps to prevent imminent harm. This includes informing the police and potentially warning the intended victim.

By choosing to warn the police and the intended victim, the therapist takes proactive measures to protect individuals who might be at risk. This action aligns with the principle of duty to protect, which is essential in the mental health field, particularly when a client poses a significant risk of harm to others. It underscores the importance of balancing client confidentiality with the need to protect potential victims from harm.

In contrast, merely informing the client about the threat does not mitigate the risk to the intended victim and does not fulfill the therapist's obligations under Tarasoff. Attending follow-up meetings with the client focuses on the therapeutic relationship rather than potential harm. Keeping all information confidential would violate the duty to protect if there is an identifiable threat to an individual’s safety. Thus, the action of warning the police and intended victim is crucial and necessary to uphold ethical and legal responsibilities in therapy practice.