The duty to protect may include which steps to prevent harm?

• A. Warning victims directly
• B. Notifying law enforcement
• C. Taking steps to prevent harm
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

When a patient poses a credible threat to an identifiable person, the duty to protect means taking reasonable steps to prevent harm, and those steps can include several actions. Directly warning the potential victim, if it can be done without creating greater danger, is one protective measure. In addition, informing law enforcement can help intervene and ensure the safety of the threatened person. Beyond warnings and police notification, taking necessary steps to prevent harm—such as arranging urgent evaluation or treatment, hospitalization, or removing access to means of carryout—may also be appropriate. The goal is to use whatever reasonable actions are warranted by the situation to reduce the risk, so a combination of these steps is often appropriate, which is why all of the above can be considered within the duty to protect.