(a) There shall be no monetary liability on the part of, and no cause of action shall arise against, any person who is a licensed marriage and family therapist in failing to predict and warn of and protect from a patient's violent behavior except where the patient has communicated to the marriage and family therapist a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable victim or victims.
(b) The duty to warn of or to take reasonable precautions to provide protection from violent behavior arises only under the limited circumstance specified in subsection (a). The duty shall be discharged by the marriage and family therapist if reasonable efforts are made to communicate the threat to the victim or victims and to a law enforcement agency.
(c) No monetary liability and no cause of action may arise under this chapter against any person who is a licensed marriage and family therapist under this chapter for confidences disclosed to third parties in an effort to discharge duty arising pursuant to subsection (a) according to subsection (b).
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 34 - Professions and Businesses.
Chapter 17A - Marriage and Family Therapists.
Section 34-17A-1 - Short Title.
Section 34-17A-2 - Legislative Intent.
Section 34-17A-3 - Definitions.
Section 34-17A-4 - Acts Prohibited.
Section 34-17A-5 - Exemptions.
Section 34-17A-6 - Creation of Board; Composition; Vacancies; Removal.
Section 34-17A-7 - Employees; Meetings; Powers.
Section 34-17A-8 - Application.
Section 34-17A-9 - Education and Experience Requirements (Prior to July 1, 1998)
Section 34-17A-10 - Education and Experience Requirements.
Section 34-17A-11 - Examinations.
Section 34-17A-12 - Persons Licensed or Certified in Other States.
Section 34-17A-13 - Fees; Duration of License; Renewal.
Section 34-17A-14 - Disciplinary Actions.
Section 34-17A-15 - Administrative Procedure.
Section 34-17A-16 - Promulgation of Rules, Regulations, and Procedures.
Section 34-17A-17 - Judicial Review.
Section 34-17A-18 - Expert Witnesses.
Section 34-17A-19 - Additional Remedy.
Section 34-17A-20 - Violation.
Section 34-17A-21 - Therapists - Privileged Communications; Exceptions.
Section 34-17A-22 - Therapists - Testimony in Alimony or Divorce Actions.
Section 34-17A-23 - Therapists - Duties and Liability.
Section 34-17A-24 - Annual Report.
Section 34-17A-25 - Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy Fund.