Tarasoff Duties

Activity Overview

This course offers an overview of the legal and ethical issues pertaining to a therapist’s duty to warn and protect in cases where a patient may commit violence. It begins with a discussion of the 1968 case of Tatiana Tarasoff, which established legal precedent for a duty to warn. Then, using illustrative examples and interview material, it surveys how different states implement the duty to warn and protect, provides a framework for determining when and how to intervene with a potentially violent patient, and offers ethical guidance for balancing confidentiality with the safety of patients’ potential victims.

Target Audience

This continuing education activity has been designed for investigators, research team members, physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, therapists, and other healthcare professionals who have an interest in the legal and ethical issues pertaining to a therapist’s duty to warn and protect in cases where a patient may commit violence.

Educational Objectives

By the end of this course, participants should be able to do the following:

  • Describe the facts of the Tarasoff case
  • Explain the ethical foundations of the duty to maintain confidentiality and the duty to warn and protect
  • Distinguish among laws and policies pertaining the duty to warn and protect in different states
  • Make use of the framework of the Appelbaum method in cases where Tarasoff duties may apply

In this activity, learners will engage with the content by moving through a series of brief video lectures with links to related readings, downloadable resources, and quizzes.

Course Structure

This course is divided into six lectures:

  1.  Introduction to Tarasoff and the Duty to Warn (6:41)
  2. Legal Obligations by State (6:58)
  3. The Appelbaum Model (3:00)
  4. The Appelbaum Model, Case Studies (4:20)
  5. A Conversation with Paul S. Appelbaum (13:45)
  6. Confidentiality (3:35)

Each lecture includes a list of suggested readings that provide more detail about what was discussed. Links to external readings will lead you to an abstract or, if available, the full article.

Successful completion of this educational activity and receipt of certificate of credit includes achieving a minimum score of 80% on the post-test.

Credit Information

Release Date: May 8, 2017
Expiration date: May 31, 2024
Last reviewed: May 30, 2023
Amount of CME credit: 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Amount of Nursing Contact Hours: 1.0 NCPD hour
Estimated Length of Time for Completion: approximately 1 hour

Register: credit           Register: noncredit

 

Sample lecture video: Introduction to Tarasoff and the Duty to Warn

Accreditation and Designation of Credit

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, Penn Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity has been designated by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania for 1.0 hour of Patient Safety/Risk Management.

Nurses

Penn Medicine Nursing is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.  Approval # 124-3-H-15.

Penn Medicine Nursing awards this activity 1.0 NCPD hour.

Physician Assistants

AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. PAs may receive a maximum of 1.0 Category 1 credits for completing this activity.

Course Faculty
Disclosures

The following planning committee member has reported the following relevant financial relationships with commercial interests related to the content of this educational activity:

Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD: Leigh Bureau, Speaker Honorarium; Oak HC/FT, Salary; Nuna, Stock Shareholder

The faculty and planning committee members listed below have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests related to the content of this educational activity:

  • Steven Joffe, MD, MPH
  • Autumn Fiester, PhD
  • Dominic A. Sisti, PhD
  • Connie Ulrich, PhD, MSN
  • Amy Ashbridge, MBA
  • Adam Zolkover, MA
  • Laura C. Hart, MFA
  • Mila Kostic, CHCP, FACEHP
  • Michael Schoen, PhD
  • Rodman Campbell, CHCP
  • Patricia Smith, DNP, RN, BC

The faculty reported that there will be no mention of investigational and/or off-label use of products in this presentation.

Acknowledgment of Commercial Support

There was no commercial support used in the development of this educational activity.

Contact

For questions related to this educational activity, contact Penn Medicine Continuing Medical and Interprofessional Education at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania at penncme@pennmedicine.upenn.edu or at 215-898-8005.

If you have questions, please contact Caitlin O'Neill, Program Manager for Online Educational Initiatives, at 215-746-3971 or MEHPonline@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.


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