Posted: September 7th, 2017

Dora, a therapist, has been treating Marvin for 5 years. Marvin is a diagnosed kleptomaniac (has a compulsive urge to steal). Marvin usually has control of his kleptomania, but when he is under stress, his urges to steal become stronger. Marvin is a very skilled thief; he never harms people when he steals. Marvin has recently learned that his long-term neighbor and friend, Polly, is about to be shipped a $50,000 diamond ring from her grandmother. Polly would love to keep her grandmother’s ring, but owes $40,000 to the local hospital for necessary medical treatment she received. Polly plans to sell the ring so she can pay the medical bills. Polly has told Marvin that because there is such high risk of theft, she has been told she must be at home at a certain time to receive the ring from the shipping company. Marvin tells Dora that Polly’s ring will be delivered on Monday, 12/22/08 at 10:00 a.m. and he plans to steal it. He knows it is wrong, but he is under stress from the holidays and feels a strong compulsion to steal Polly’s ring. Based on her five years of treating Marvin, Dora believes that he will steal Polly’s ring, but not physically harm Polly. Dora has come to you for advice about what she is legally required to do. Your best advice to Dora would be to:

Dora, a therapist, has been treating Marvin for 5 years. Marvin is a diagnosed
kleptomaniac (has a compulsive urge to steal). Marvin usually has control of his
kleptomania, but when he is under stress, his urges to steal become stronger. Marvin is a
very skilled thief; he never harms people when he steals. Marvin has recently learned that
his long-term neighbor and friend, Polly, is about to be shipped a $50,000 diamond ring
from her grandmother. Polly would love to keep her grandmother’s ring, but owes
$40,000 to the local hospital for necessary medical treatment she received. Polly plans to
sell the ring so she can pay the medical bills. Polly has told Marvin that because there is
such high risk of theft, she has been told she must be at home at a certain time to receive
the ring from the shipping company. Marvin tells Dora that Polly’s ring will be delivered
on Monday, 12/22/08 at 10:00 a.m. and he plans to steal it. He knows it is wrong, but he
is under stress from the holidays and feels a strong compulsion to steal Polly’s ring.
Based on her five years of treating Marvin, Dora believes that he will steal Polly’s ring,
but not physically harm Polly. Dora has come to you for advice about what she is
legally required to do. Your best advice to Dora would be to:
A. Do nothing; a therapist generally has no duty to control a client’s actions.
B. Do nothing; therapists may not reveal confidential information about their clients.
C. Warn Polly that Marvin may steal her ring because it is highly likely that Marvin
will commit a serious crime against a specific third party.
D. Inform local law enforcement officials about Marvin’s likely theft because Dora
has a duty to take reasonable efforts to protect Polly from a serious threat.