Exam 12: Professional Codes of Ethics and the Law

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-The case involved a lawsuit brought by the parents of Tatiana Tarasoff, who was murdered by Prosenjit Poddar, against a psychologist employed at the University of California, Berkeley; the university police; and the director of the counseling center.
-Mr. Poddar had become friends with Ms. Tarasoff, and he interpreted their relationship as more than friendship. Once he expressed his interest in more than a friendship, Ms. Tarasoff rejected his efforts. She left for Brazil for several months.
-Mr. Poddar was depressed and upset that he had been rebuked by Ms. Tarasoff. Prosenjit Poddar sought counseling from the university counseling center. Dr. Lawrence Moore saw Mr. Poddar for several months. In one session, Mr. Poddar stated he wanted to murder a woman who was easily identified as Ms. Tarasoff.
-The psychologist contacted campus police and requested that Mr. Poddar be detained and evaluated for dangerousness. The campus police briefly detained Mr. Poddar and released him, concluding that he was not dangerous.
-The counseling center supervisor concluded that no further action was needed, and he had records of the counseling sessions destroyed (Buckner & Firestone, 2000).
-No university personnel warned Ms. Tarasoff, who was out of the country at the time, about the threat made by Mr. Poddar. When she returned to California, Mr. Poddar murdered Ms. Tarasoff.
- The conclusion was that counselors, psychologists, and so forth do have a responsibility, a duty to warn an intended victim of a violent act.