Historically, psychotherapists have been concerned about the impact of mandated reporting requirements on their work with patients. This paper explores policy and professional issues regarding mandated child abuse reporting in the lighto/Roe v. Superior Court(1991). Ethical and informed consent conflicts receive particular attention. Other recent court decisions which weigh psychotherapist‐patient privilege against exceptions to that privilege in child abuse cases are discussed to suggest the probability that understanding child protection laws may be beyond the knowledge of most practicing psychotherapists and their patients. Possible next steps in social policy are propose