Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California established the duty to protect for threats of what?

• A. Threats of property damage
• B. Non-violent threats
• C. Serious threat of physical violence
• D. Verbal threats only

Answer: (C)

Tarasoff establishes a duty to protect when a patient poses a serious threat of physical violence toward an identifiable person. The essential idea is that when there is credible intent and likelihood of harming someone, clinicians must take steps to protect the potential victim, which can include warning the person or notifying authorities. It does not apply to threats of property damage, non-violent threats, or verbal threats alone without credible evidence of imminent harm. So the correct answer is threats of a serious physical-violence danger.