Law and Ethics of Mandatory Reporting and Client Lethality

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Location: Virtual

Instructor: Dr. Eric Ström, Ph.D., JD, LMHC

CE credits: 3 (pending)

Course Description:

For many clinicians, client lethality and mandatory reporting are some of the most difficult topics to navigate. In this workshop we will examine the applicable legal standards regarding mandatory reporting obligations with a specific focus on how these rules apply to behavioral health and substance use disorder clinicians who work with military veteran clients. We will also discuss the boundaries and standards of clinician liability for client harm to self or others as defined in Washington State case law. Participants will gain increased ability to implement strategies to minimize risk and to limit liability to best support their clients. This course is intended to meet law & ethics CEU requirements..

Learning objectives. 

At the end of this training participants will be able to:

1.  Describe Washington state legal standards regarding duty to warn/duty to protect
2. Locate and compare legal and ethical standards regarding mandatory reporting obligations
3. Create and evaluate strategies to meet legal reporting requirements while maximizing client support
4. Apply legal and ethical standards to work with military veteran clients

References:

Jackson v. City of Mountlake Terrace, No. C16-1282JLR (W.D. Wash. Mar. 3, 2017).

Petersen v. State, 100 Wn.2d 421, 671 P.2d 230 (1983).

State v. James-Buhl, 190 Wn.2d 470, 415 P.3d 234 (2018).

Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California, 17 Cal. 3d 425, 551 P.2d 334 (1976).

Volk v. DeMeerleer, 184 Wn. App. 389, 337 P.3d 372 (2014).

Volk v. DeMeerleer, 187 Wn.2d 241, 386 P.3d 254 (2016).

Wash. Admin. Code § 246-16-235 (2026).

Wash. Admin. Code § 246-809-040 (2026).

Wash. Admin. Code § 246-810-0131 (2026).

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.16 (2026).

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.073 (2026).

Wash. Rev. Code § 18.19.180 (2026).

Wash. Rev. Code § 18.225.105 (2026).

Wash. Rev. Code § 26.44 (2026).

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.02 (2026).

Wash. Rev. Code § 71.05 (2026).

Wash. Rev. Code § 74.34 (2026).