duty to warn


AIDS A legal duty imposed on a health care provider who learns that an HIV-infected patient is likely to transmit HIV to another identifiable person; state laws determine what actually constitutes a ‘duty to warn’
Psychiatry The ethical obligation that a doctor has to disclose the risk of suicide or other harm to a third party

duty to warn

AIDS A legal concept indicating that a health care provider who learns that an HIV-infected Pt is likely to transmit the virus to another identifiable person must take steps to warn that person

duty to warn

1. An obligation to advise a patient about potential risks of a treatment or procedure. 2. The obligation of health care providers to advise people of the potential risks that others may pose to them.