The "duty to warn and protect" legal requirement was established by which case?

The "duty to warn and protect" legal requirement was established by the case of Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California. This landmark decision emerged from a tragic incident in which a student disclosed to his therapist intentions to harm a specific individual. The therapist did not take sufficient steps to warn the potential victim, leading to a significant public outcry after the victim was harmed.

The court ruled that mental health professionals have an obligation to warn individuals who are specifically threatened by a client. This case set a precedent in the realm of mental health and created a legal standard that mandates therapists to take action when they are aware of a credible threat against an identifiable person. As a result, the case is foundational in understanding the balance between client confidentiality and the safety of potential victims, highlighting the responsibility that mental health professionals have to protect others when there is a clear risk of harm.

This legal principle has significant implications for practice in social work and related fields, as it emphasizes the importance of assessing danger and taking necessary precautions to prevent harm to others.