What is "duty to warn" in the context of medical ethics?

"Duty to warn" refers to the ethical and legal obligation of a healthcare provider to inform a third party if a patient poses a serious threat of harm to themselves or others. This duty comes into play particularly in situations where a healthcare professional identifies a credible threat. For example, if a patient confides in a therapist or doctor about intentions to harm someone, the healthcare provider has the responsibility to warn that potential victim or notify authorities, thus taking necessary steps to prevent harm.

This concept is rooted in the principle of protecting the safety and well-being of individuals, prioritizing it even above patient confidentiality in specific circumstances. The duty to warn serves to balance the rights of the patient with the safety of the public, emphasizing that while confidentiality is critical in healthcare, it is not absolute when it comes to preventing serious harm.

Other options, such as informing patients of their diagnosis, reporting every patient interaction, or disclosing patient history to employers, do not pertain to the "duty to warn" and instead revolve more around patient rights and confidentiality in a broader context. Each of these alternatives highlights different aspects of medical ethics, such as informed consent or privacy, but they do not specifically address the obligation to warn third parties about imminent threats.