As a clinical psychologist, you are committed to protecting the privacy of your patients. One afternoon a patient tells you that her husband, who has been abusing her physically and mentally for years, has threatened to kill her, and she believes he would You try to convince her to leave him, but she tells you that she has decided to kill him. She is certain that he would find her wherever she went and feels that she will be safe only when he is dead.
2006-09-08 18:28:17 · 5 answers · asked by flo123 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Take her to a safe house, and refer her to a really good family law lawyer who will help her without charging her two broken arms and a busted leg. Both the people at the safe house and the family lawyer are definitely more equipped to deal with this situation then you are.
2006-09-08 18:32:58 · answer #1 · answered by Sky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your proper course of action would be to refer her to the police. Unfortunately, given the usefulness of that action, even in today's enlightened environment (and without sounding facetious), you would be better off coaching her on how to mount a self-defense plea and taking her gun shopping. Even with all the documented domestic violence cases in this country, the police are practically worthless when it comes to protecting an abused spouse. The standard rhetoric to "file an order of protection" is often sufficient prodding for the abuser to finish the job and kill the abused spouse. It's too bad that domestic violence complaints aren't taken more seriously....the murder rate (on either side) might be lower.
2006-09-09 01:33:49 · answer #2 · answered by druid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should refer the case to a Psychiatrist and see if she can be declared mentally incompetent and detained before she ruins what's left of her life. If you believe she is capable of doing such a thing I would have to believe that the protection of life would supercede privacy. She needs some serious help both to clear her mind of the need to feel such things and to get away from the abuse.
2006-09-09 01:42:21 · answer #3 · answered by Winter Wolf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to tell the police and let them know the whole story then tell them about the privacy and how you could get in trouble but on the other hand you can still be charge in knowing before the fact or after
2006-09-09 01:35:59 · answer #4 · answered by janie b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well...start with what you will have to say in court when she is on trial for his murder. How are you going to be seen? By the law, by the jury. Speak to your peers if you want to cover your butt...and you need to cover it. It is your livelihood afterall.
2006-09-09 01:35:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋