The Tarasoff case was a malpractice suit, a tort action seeking monetary damages. In a tort action, the plaintiff (one bringing the suit) alleges that
A) the defendant violated a duty of care owed the plaintiff
B) the plaintiff was injured
C) the failure to meet the duty of care was the proximate or legal cause of the injury
D) all of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Tarasoff case established that mental health professionals have a duty to protect individuals who are being threatened with bodily harm by a patient. This includes the elements that the defendant (in this case, the mental health professional) violated a duty of care owed to the plaintiff (the person threatened), the plaintiff was injured (or in the case of Tarasoff, was threatened with injury), and the failure to meet the duty of care was the proximate or legal cause of the injury. Thus, all of the listed options are components of a tort action as illustrated in the Tarasoff case.

The Tarasoff Case Was a Malpractice Suit, a Tort Action