What does the 'duty to warn' pertain to?

The 'duty to warn' specifically pertains to the ethical and legal responsibility of counselors to inform a potential victim if a client poses a serious threat of harm to them. This concept gained prominence following the Tarasoff case, where the court ruled that mental health professionals are obligated to breach confidentiality to protect individuals who may be in imminent danger due to a client's expressed intent to harm them.

In this context, the duty to warn goes beyond simply advising the authorities; it emphasizes proactive communication with the potential target of harm. Therefore, this obligation is not merely about legal compliance but is deeply rooted in the counselor's commitment to safeguard the well-being of others, reflecting a balance between client confidentiality and the potential risk to public safety.

While informing authorities might be a necessary step in some cases, the primary focus of the duty to warn relates to the immediate need to protect individuals who could be endangered based on the counselor's assessment of the client's threats.