Discussion

Use this discussion to discuss your argument with other members of the defense team.   Together come up with an opening statement to post to the class discussion board.

Ethical Dilemma #1 - Tarasoff Case

On October 27, 1969, UC Berkley student Tatiana Tarasoff was murdered by a graduate student  Prosenjit Poddar from Bengal, India who had gone on several dates with her.  They had met in a folk dancing class in 1968. They disagreed on the seriousness of their relationship with Tatiana stated that she was not interested in pursuing a relationship.  Prosenjit became obsessed with her.  When Tatiana rejected him, Prosenjit began stalking her and was in an emotional crisis for which he began psychological counseling at the university counseling center with psychologist Dr. Lawrence Moore.  

Dr. Moore was concerned when his patient confessed his intention of killing Tatiana.  Dr. Moore saw him for eight sessions and advised him that if he continued with death threats, then he would need to hospitalize Prosenjit.  After this Prosenjit discontinued therapy.  He was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Dr. Moore consulted his supervisor, and they wrote a letter to the campus police disclosing the death threats. The psychologist recommended that the defendant be civilly committed as a dangerous person. Prosenjit was detained but released quickly, as he appeared rational. Police then interviewed Prosenjit who denied making death threats and promised to stay away from Tatiana.  Prosenjit continued stalking.  He confronted and stabbed Tatiana at her home.  Neither Tatiana or her parents were warned about Prosenjit's threats to kill her. The therapists felt that their first responsibility was to protect their client.  Tatiana's parents sued Dr. Moore and other University employees saying that they should have warned Tatiana directly.