You are liable to be liable for the mistakes of those that you manage and supervise. Maybe it’s best to think of it as a parent child relationship. Parents, until your little one turns 18, you are financially responsible for their poor choices. Remembering that as superiors, we are responsible for the decisions of those we supervise, is not something be taken lightly.
In 2001, Geno Colello’ father was gravely concerned about his son’s depression. Colello, a former member of the Los Angeles Police Department, had been seeing Dr. David Goldstein from 1997- June 2001. In the past, Colello gave Dr. Goldstein permission to speak with his father. The father shared he believed Colello may do something drastic to a former girlfriend’s new boyfriend, …show more content…
Poddar shared his plan to kill a woman whose identity was unknown to Moore. Moore in turn contacted campus police, however, after questioning Poddar, they released him. Moore persisted and wrote a formal letter to the chief of the campus of police. Quite surprisingly, Moore’s supervisor then asked for case notes to be destroyed and to essentially drop it. That ball certainly was dropped, and landed many in court after Poddar killed Tatiana Tarasoff and her family filed suit against the Board of Regents and the employees of the university. (Corey, Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2014) It is my belief that the therapist, Moore did his best. At the time, he did not know Tarasoff’s name to be able to personally warn her. He went to authorities, he was persistent, but he was squelched. His superiors, I believe, were indeed negligent. Certainly, to direct Moore to destroy case notes on Poddar, was unlawful.
Dr. Ofer Zur, Ph.D., shares that it is wise to consult with a legal expert and document thoroughly when breaking confidentiality. He advises psychotherapists, when dealing with a Tarasoff situation, to give clients written notice in their Polices and Informed Consent forms. Zur even highlights in blue on his forms, to inform clients that if family members warn of a potential danger, that may constitute a break in confidentiality …show more content…
Stone, both Dr. Stone and Dr. Kaplan were ordered to pay $75,000 in damages regarding a malpractice suit. Here we find another case of vicarious liability, since Dr. Kaplan was not made aware of Dr. Stone’s poor choice until after the fact. The court found Dr. Stone negligent for moving forward with general anesthesia, after Dr. Stone’s resident, Dr. Jiminez improperly injected the patient, Mr. Rockwell. The end result of the negligence was the loss of Mr. Rockwell’s left arm. While Dr. Stone didn’t personally inject Mr. Rockwell, his resident did. Should Dr. Stone have moved forward with general anesthesia after the improper injection? Should Dr. Stone have let a resident administer the injection in the first place? It’s probably that Dr. Stone asked himself those same questions after he learned of the malpractice suit, however, the court found he was indeed liable because of his position as ‘captain of the ship’. (Rockwell v. Stone, 1961) Let this case be a reminder we are responsible for those we have working under us. Do we trust them to be wise and make good choices? The ramifications of supervising untrustworthy or negligent people can cost a therapist not only an arm, but a leg
In 2001, Geno Colello’ father was gravely concerned about his son’s depression. Colello, a former member of the Los Angeles Police Department, had been seeing Dr. David Goldstein from 1997- June 2001. In the past, Colello gave Dr. Goldstein permission to speak with his father. The father shared he believed Colello may do something drastic to a former girlfriend’s new boyfriend, …show more content…
Poddar shared his plan to kill a woman whose identity was unknown to Moore. Moore in turn contacted campus police, however, after questioning Poddar, they released him. Moore persisted and wrote a formal letter to the chief of the campus of police. Quite surprisingly, Moore’s supervisor then asked for case notes to be destroyed and to essentially drop it. That ball certainly was dropped, and landed many in court after Poddar killed Tatiana Tarasoff and her family filed suit against the Board of Regents and the employees of the university. (Corey, Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2014) It is my belief that the therapist, Moore did his best. At the time, he did not know Tarasoff’s name to be able to personally warn her. He went to authorities, he was persistent, but he was squelched. His superiors, I believe, were indeed negligent. Certainly, to direct Moore to destroy case notes on Poddar, was unlawful.
Dr. Ofer Zur, Ph.D., shares that it is wise to consult with a legal expert and document thoroughly when breaking confidentiality. He advises psychotherapists, when dealing with a Tarasoff situation, to give clients written notice in their Polices and Informed Consent forms. Zur even highlights in blue on his forms, to inform clients that if family members warn of a potential danger, that may constitute a break in confidentiality …show more content…
Stone, both Dr. Stone and Dr. Kaplan were ordered to pay $75,000 in damages regarding a malpractice suit. Here we find another case of vicarious liability, since Dr. Kaplan was not made aware of Dr. Stone’s poor choice until after the fact. The court found Dr. Stone negligent for moving forward with general anesthesia, after Dr. Stone’s resident, Dr. Jiminez improperly injected the patient, Mr. Rockwell. The end result of the negligence was the loss of Mr. Rockwell’s left arm. While Dr. Stone didn’t personally inject Mr. Rockwell, his resident did. Should Dr. Stone have moved forward with general anesthesia after the improper injection? Should Dr. Stone have let a resident administer the injection in the first place? It’s probably that Dr. Stone asked himself those same questions after he learned of the malpractice suit, however, the court found he was indeed liable because of his position as ‘captain of the ship’. (Rockwell v. Stone, 1961) Let this case be a reminder we are responsible for those we have working under us. Do we trust them to be wise and make good choices? The ramifications of supervising untrustworthy or negligent people can cost a therapist not only an arm, but a leg