http://www.psych.org/psych_pract/eth...nions53101.cfm This is from the American PSYCHIATRIC Association, opinions of the Ethics committee.

Section 4-E

Question: There has been a series of especially gruesome murders in a community. The similarity of the crimes strongly suggests they have been committed by the same individual, who in all likelihood is mentally ill. A forensic psychiatrist has drawn up a speculative psychological profile. Is it proper for the psychiatrist to make this profile public? If a local psychiatrist believes the profile may be that of a patient, should the psychiatrist report this to the police?

Answer: Since this profile is speculative and not representative of anyone known by the forensic psychiatrist, it is ethical to assist the police by providing them advice about the identification of the killer. If a psychiatrist believes the profile is that of one of his patients, the psychiatrist has the following options: (a) if it appears the problem is now history and future attacks will not occur, the psychiatrist should assist the patient in a decision to go to the police; (b) if there is reason to believe the attacks may continue, the psychiatrist should strongly urge the patient, perhaps with the assistance of the patient's lawyer, to go to the police; (c) if the patient refuses, it is ethical for the psychiatrist to notify the police. Section 4, Annotation 8 (APA) states:

When, in the clinical judgment of the treating psychiatrist, the risk of danger is deemed to be significant, the psychiatrist may reveal confidential information disclosed by the patient.

This is a permissive statement. In some jurisdictions, there is an obligation to report in a circumstance such as described above. (January 1977)