Confidentiality, Physician/Patient Communications

The medical profession has long recognized the ethical principle that communication between a patient and physician should be treated as confidential and should not be revealed by the physician to any third party without the patient's consent or unless required by law. The physician/patient privilege is a legal doctrine that recognizes and protects the confidential nature of communication between patients and their physicians. Accordingly, the American Academy of Family Physicians opposes any effort to erode or eliminate the physician/patient privilege. (1973) (2002)