If an adult patient who may pose danger to themselves stops attending therapy and cannot be reached, is it permissible for the therapist to contact a family member to check on the patient?

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Multiple Choice

If an adult patient who may pose danger to themselves stops attending therapy and cannot be reached, is it permissible for the therapist to contact a family member to check on the patient?

Confidentiality has limits when there is imminent risk of harm. If an adult patient who may be dangerous to themselves becomes unreachable, contacting a family member to check on safety is permissible under these safeguards. The goal is to prevent serious harm, so you may share only the minimal information needed to assess and ensure safety. A court order is not required in this emergency-like circumstance, and while obtaining the patient’s consent is ideal, it is not always feasible when risk is present. Always document the rationale, attempt to contact the patient, and seek supervision if there’s any doubt about what to disclose or next steps.

Confidentiality has limits when there is imminent risk of harm. If an adult patient who may be dangerous to themselves becomes unreachable, contacting a family member to check on safety is permissible under these safeguards. The goal is to prevent serious harm, so you may share only the minimal information needed to assess and ensure safety. A court order is not required in this emergency-like circumstance, and while obtaining the patient’s consent is ideal, it is not always feasible when risk is present. Always document the rationale, attempt to contact the patient, and seek supervision if there’s any doubt about what to disclose or next steps.

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