If a patient shares a credible threat to harm another person during a session, how do you balance confidentiality with your duty to warn and protect?
Specialty-Specific
Purpose
This question digs into a tough ethical and legal situation in psychiatry. Interviewers want to see if you understand when confidentiality can be broken to protect someone else and how you'd handle that tricky balance.
Tips
- Start by acknowledging the conflict between confidentiality and the duty to warn.
- Make it clear that the safety of the potential victim is your top priority.
- Mention that you would assess the threat's credibility and consult with a supervisor immediately.
Common mistakes
- Don't prioritize confidentiality over the duty to warn; that's a big red flag.
- Avoid saying you'd handle it all on your own without consulting anyone.
- Don't ignore the emotional impact on the therapeutic relationship; it's important to address that.