Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California
Confidentiality after death
Is there confidentiality after death? If a patient with no will, no siblings, no
spouse, and no children, commits suicide, does his therapist have the right to
identify the person as a patient and discuss his case by name? If the therapist
has been designated as the deceased's ''representative'' does that change
concerns about confidentiality?
Thanks for your assistance
Asked on 4/12/06, 5:13 pm
1 Answer from Attorneys
Donald Field
Donald L. Field, Jr., Attorney at Law
Re: Confidentiality after death
see California Civil Code Sections 56.10 through 56.16 at:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=civ&codebody=&hits=20
see also:
http://www.usdoj.gov/04foia/04_7_1.html
Answered on 4/16/06, 12:57 pm