Moral dilemma Number 3 : The Principle of Psychiatric Confidentiality?!

it would be the psychiatrist responsibility to have the bloke detained under the mental health act

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Report to police, as doctor/patient confidentiality should not override safety of others

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When a psychiatrist starts treating a patient they usually make a personal agreement with them (this can be verbal), where they state to the patient that all information is treated as confidential, usless they intend to harm themselves or others. So In this case the psychiatrist should be morally bound to inform the police of the threat.

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There is a law that you report these threats, at least there is where I live, in the US. And I believe that law is just, no one can tell when a threat is idle, or not, and when it comes to someones life, guessing could be deadly.

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You should report it, because hopefully you will have discussed exceptions to client confidentiality prior to working together.

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There is no moral dilemma in your question Psychiatrists have to report if a patient is a danger to themselves or another person. If they don't they can face being struck of the medical register!

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In Canada, the law states if there is a possible threat against the patient (self harm) or others, the threat must be reported. It is under the Mental Health Act.

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There is a law that requires you to report such threats. A doctor/lawyer/psychiatrist etc is freed from patient/client confidentiality laws if their patient or client suggests they are going to harm themselves or another person and they have to report it.

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doctor patient confidentiality laws state that everything told by the patient to the care provider is confidential "unless" the patient confesses that he/she will or may cause harm to himself or to others.

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