Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California

Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California is a landmark legal case from 1976 regarding the duty of mental health professionals to protect individuals from foreseeable harm. It arose when a student, who was being treated for violent thoughts, killed Tatiana Tarasoff after the therapist informed the police but did not warn her. The court ruled that therapists have an obligation to warn potential victims if a patient poses a serious threat to them. This case established the principle that protecting individuals from harm can sometimes outweigh patient confidentiality.