What judicial decision established the legal requirement referred to as the "duty to warn and protect"?

The "duty to warn and protect" is a legal requirement established by the case of Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California. This landmark decision arose from a tragic situation where a therapist failed to warn a potential victim about a client's expressed intention to commit harm. The court ruled that mental health professionals have an obligation to protect individuals who are being threatened with harm by their clients. This establishes a critical balance between client confidentiality and the duty to prevent harm to others, which is a fundamental principle in social work and mental health practice.

By recognizing this legal precedent, practitioners are mandated to breach confidentiality when there is a clear threat to an identifiable third party. This case has significant implications for practice, emphasizing the responsibility of social workers and mental health professionals to take action when they believe someone is at risk of serious harm. The other options listed do not pertain to this duty, focusing instead on different legal issues, such as education, rights of individuals in custody, or reproductive rights.