You Are a Psychiatrist on Call with a State Prison

Multiple Choice

You are a psychiatrist on call with a state prison. You have been called in to examine an inmate who has been behaving erratically. Prison officials are concerned that he poses a danger to himself and others. They have confined him in a bare solitary cell to be sure he can't hurt himself, and have asked you to evaluate him. Immediately, you recognize an ethical dilemma. Your duty as a psychiatrist requires you to act in the best interests of your patient, but at the same time, you recognize that the prison setting brings with it certain duties that favor institutional security over patient rights.
Your session with the inmate has left you convinced that the inmate has the intention of attacking his cellmate. You are faced with a dilemma. As a professional, you are committed to patient confidentiality, and the inmate has not given you permission to share anything that he told you. At the same time, you recognize that the cellmate's safety is at risk. Your dilemma is resolved by the ____________ rule, which states that you would be liable if you fail to act and the cellmate is harmed.

A) Washington
B) Tarasoff
C) Harper
D) Ruiz