Which of the following best describes the Tarasoff-related duty?

• A. Do nothing
• B. Notify only the patient's family
• C. Maintain confidentiality regardless of threat
• D. Warn or protect third parties when a patient poses a credible threat

Answer: (D)

The main idea is the Tarasoff duty: when a patient poses a credible threat to another person, a clinician must take steps to warn or protect that potential victim or others who might be at risk. This obligation overrides confidentially in such cases because the safety of third parties takes precedence when there is a real, identifiable danger. In practice, that means if a patient expresses a clear intent to harm someone specific, the clinician should assess the risk and, as appropriate, warn the threatened person or notify authorities to enable protective action. Simply doing nothing ignores imminent danger, and keeping confidentiality intact in the face of a credible threat can put others at serious risk. Telling only the patient’s family can be insufficient because the risk targets may be unidentified or not encompassed by the family, and it may not reach those at risk. The correct approach aligns with balancing ethical duties to maintain confidentiality with the obligation to prevent harm to others.