DEATH THREAT AND DUTY TO WARN DILEMMA IN GROUP

Chris Buckingham, MA, NCC, LCPC Susan K. Childers MS, LAC Sage Voronov, MS, MA, LPC, NCC Cheryl Burnett MA, LAPC DEATH THREAT AND DUTY TO WARN DILEMMA IN GROUP

Scenario • Outpatient, voluntary, anger management group • Group members screened for violent history • Informed consent and confidentiality reviewed • After 5th session, informed by a group member of another group member’s death threat towards ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend

Solutions • Do nothing and see what developed at the next session (ACA Code B. 2 .a.) • Call Bill and inform him that the therapists had been made aware of the threat (ACA Code A. 8. b) • Contact the girlfriend and her boyfriend and warn them of the threat (ACA Code A. 4. a.) • Contact the police and inform them of the threat (ACA Code A. 8. b.)

Historic and LegalCases Tarasoff v. Board of Regents of the University of California Hedlung v. Superior Court Thapar v. Zezulka

Proposed Interventions • Consult with other professionals when in doubt about ethical or legal responsibility • Warn the intended victim but as discreetly as possible in an effort to protect the client’s confidentiality • Notify the Local law enforcement agency • Contact relatives or others who can apprise the potential victim of the danger • Initiate voluntary or involuntary commitment to shift the burden of decision-making to the courts • Document all observations and efforts

DEATH THREAT AND DUTY TO WARN DILEMMA IN GROUP