Jason Aronson, Inc. This book by a psychoanalyst and a lawyer advocates allowing the professional to decide whether to report child abuse. The authors note that confidentiality is now threatened in journalism, research, adoptions, medical practice, current office procedures, and the information superhighway. They believe that in psychotherapy absolute confidentiality should take precedence over the legal duty to report real or suspected child abuse and they dispute arguments that breaking confidentiality can serve a higher purpose. Throughout, they provide examples of actual situations, but although the book is a philosophical defense of confidentiality, it offers few practical solutions. The book closes with a set of references and an index. This book contains a useful summary of the issues and is recommended for professionals. Reviewed by LeRoy G. Schultz, Professor Emeritus, West Virginia University.
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