Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

What landmark case established Duty to Warn laws?

1. Roe v. Wade

2. Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California

3. Brown v. Board of Education

4. Miranda v. Arizona

The correct answer is: Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California

The landmark case that established Duty to Warn laws is Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California. In this case, the court ruled that mental health professionals have a responsibility to protect individuals who may be at risk of harm from a patient. This case arose when a therapist became aware that a patient was threatening to kill a specific person but did not take steps to warn that person. The ruling highlighted the legal obligation for counselors and psychologists to breach confidentiality in certain situations where there is a clear and imminent threat to an identifiable individual. As a result, this case significantly shaped the ethical and legal standards of mental health practice regarding client confidentiality versus duty to protect third parties.