The hypothetical practice situations that follow are designed to stimulate thinking on the issue of confidentiality. Each situation is followed by a multiple-choice list of possible responses you might make. Choose the response that you consider the best and briefly explain (a sentence or two) why you think it is the best option.

1. Mary Smith is a depressed elderly woman who was admitted to Polyclinic Hospital due to severe back pain. She was advised she might need surgery to correct the problem. You are her case manager at the Office of Aging, and she calls to say she is considering suicide. The constant back pain has made her feel like "just giving up." Mary is currently at home, awaiting a surgery date. You know Mary has a supply of pain pills, and she says she wants to take all the pills. You feel there is a substantial risk that Mary might follow through on her threat. You should:
   • Contact the Polyclinic orthopedic staff who are currently seeing Mary in the outpatient clinic.
   • Maintain frequent contact with Mary, but respect her wishes to keep her suicide plans confidential.
   • After discussing with Mary what you are about to do, contact crisis intervention.
   • Advise the city police department of Mary's suicide plans.
2. Bill Jones is a client who has been in alcohol treatment programs at your facility. He is currently depressed about his pending divorce and present marital separation. He has signed a release of information form for you to share information with his priest, who is counseling Bill about his religious conflicts regarding the divorce. A man calls you claiming to be Bill's priest and requesting information on Bill's current state of mind. You have never actually spoken with Bill's priest, and you think this might actually be Bill's wife's attorney calling. You should:
   • Give no information on the phone until you have verified the identity of the caller.
   • Refer the caller to Bill, but send the information to the person at the address on the release form Bill signed.
   • Insist upon meeting with the priest in person.
   • Share no information with the caller and contact Bill
   • Get the person's number and call him back.