Question

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia believes a local minister stirred evil spirits. The patient threatens to bomb a local church. The psychiatrist notifies the minister. Select the answer with the correct rationale. The psychiatrist

a. released information without proper authorization.
b. demonstrated the duty to warn and protect.
c. violated the patient's confidentiality.
d. avoided charges of malpractice.

Answer 1

The psychiatrist demonstrated the duty to warn and protect.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is b. demonstrated the duty to warn and protect.

In this scenario, the psychiatrist notifies the minister about the patient's threat to bomb a local church. This action demonstrates the duty to warn and protect. The duty to warn and protect is a legal and ethical obligation for mental health professionals to take action if a patient poses a serious threat to others.

The psychiatrist demonstrated the duty to warn and protect by notifying the minister about the patient's threat to bomb the church. This action is based on the principle that mental health professionals have an obligation to protect individuals who may be in danger due to a patient's behavior, as established in cases like Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California. While it may appear that the psychiatrist violated the patient's confidentiality, the duty to warn supersedes this when there is a clear and imminent danger to others. Psychiatrists must navigate the ethical balance between a patient's confidentiality and the need to prevent harm to others