The Duty to Warn or Protect may apply in IPV/sexual violence cases when there is which condition?

• A. Non-imminent risk with no imminent harm.
• B. Only for property damage.
• C. Clear, immediate risk to a third party and the professional may warn third parties or take protective steps to prevent harm.
• D. Always requires a court order.

Answer: (C)

The situation tests how the duty to warn or protect operates. It applies when there is a clear, immediate risk that a client will harm someone else. In IPV and sexual violence cases, if a clinician assesses that there is a credible, imminent threat to a third party (for example, a partner or other potential victim), the professional may take steps to prevent harm. Those steps can include warning the potential victim or notifying authorities, as well as other protective actions like arranging hospitalization or restricting access to weapons. The emphasis is on immediacy and the safety of others, not on non-imminent risk or property damage. A court order isn’t always required for these protective actions; the duty to warn or protect can be invoked directly when the risk is imminent and credible.