This unique text is organized around the most current ethical and legal standards as defined by the mental health professionals of psychology, social work, ...

Mental health professionals rightfully experience significant anxiety regarding their duty to protect when working with potentially dangerous individuals. This work dispels myths and provides readers with a resource addressing the situations where a duty to protect may apply.

Different cultures, different lenses -- Various approaches to risk in the legal system -- Institutional background -- Regulation -- Tort law generally -- Information about risk and assumption of risk -- Medical malocurrences -- The duty/proximite cause problem -- Scientific evidence -- Tort reform -- Statutory compensation systems.

This book draws on both the historical context & contemporary research evidence to present the roles of mental health social work, AMHP & BIA, within an ethical framework. Codes of practice & statutory legal requirements, such as the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act & the Human Rights Act, are all considered.