Responsibility of the therapist for the patients' actions (tarasoff rules): Position of the psychiatrists

Background and aims: Patient confidentiality and the therapist's responsibility to society may present a challenge in the therapeutic relationship between the psychiatrist and the patient. We examined the attitudes of Israeli psychiatrists concerning the duty to warn and protect according to the Tarasoff Rule. Methods: Questionnaires to examine psychiatrists' opinions concerning the implementation of the Tarasoff Rule in Israel were sent to senior psychiatrists involved in forensic psychiatry for anonymous completion. Results: 108 (64%) questionnaires were returned. 61 (57%) replied that they encountered similar situations. Conclusions: Thorough understanding of the Tarasoff Rule, clarification of the patient's potential dangerousness, and timely deliberation of the issues will assist the therapist. Investigation of the medical consensus of senior physicians, as performed in our study, is also a point of reference for formulating an opinion.