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Rule 504. Physician and Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege.
(a) Definitions. As used in this rule:
(1) A patient is a person who consults or is examined or interviewed by a physician or psychotherapist.
(2) A physician is a person authorized to practice medicine in any state or nation, or reasonably believed by the patient so to be.
(3) [Effective March 1, 1999.] A psychotherapist is (A) a person authorized to practice medicine in any state or nation, or reasonably believed by the patient to be so, while engaged in the diagnosis or treatment of a mental or emotional condition, including alcohol or drug addiction, (B) a person licensed or certified as a psychologist or psychological examiner under the laws of any state or nation or reasonably believed by the patient so to be, while similarly engaged, [OR]
(C) a person licensed as a marital or family therapist under the laws of a state or nation or reasonably believed by the patient so to be, while similarly engaged, or (D) a person licensed as a professional counselor under the laws of a state or nation, or reasonably believed by the patient so to be, while similarly engaged.
(4) A communication is confidential if not intended to be disclosed to third persons other than those present to further the interest of the patient in the consultation, examination, or interview, or persons reasonably necessary for the transmission of the communication, or persons who are participating in the diagnosis and treatment under the direction of the physician or psychotherapist, including members of the patient's family.
(b) General Rule of Privilege. A patient has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any other person from disclosing confidential communications made for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of the patient's physical, mental or emotional conditions, including alcohol or drug addiction, between or among the patient, the patient's physician or psychotherapist, or persons who are participating in the diagnosis or treatment under the direction of the physician or psychotherapist, including members of the patient's family.
(c) Who May Claim the Privilege. The privilege may be claimed by the patient, by his guardian, guardian ad litem or conservator, or by the personal representative of a deceased patient. The person who was the physician or psychotherapist at the time of the communication is presumed to have authority to claim the privilege but only on behalf of the patient.
(d) Exceptions. There is no privilege under this rule:
(1) Condition on Element of Claim or Defense. As to communications relevant to the physical, mental or emotional condition of the patient in any proceeding in which the condition of the patient is an element of the claim or defense of the patient, of any party claiming through or under the patient, of any person raising the patient's condition as an element of his own case, or of any person claiming as a beneficiary of the patient through a contract to which the patient is or was a party; or after the patient's death, in any proceeding in which any party puts the condition in issue.
(2) Crime or Fraud. If the services of the physician or psychotherapist were sought, obtained or used to enable or aid anyone to commit or plan a crime or fraud or to escape detection or apprehension after the commission of a crime or a fraud.
(3) Breach of Duty Arising Out of Physician-Patient Relationship. As to a communication relevant to an issue of breach, by the physician, or by the psychotherapist, or by the patient, of a duty arising out of the physician-patient or psychotherapist-patient relationship.
(4) Proceedings for Hospitalization. For communications relevant to an issue in proceedings to hospitalize the patient for physical, mental or emotional illness, if the physician or psychotherapist, in the course of diagnosis or treatment, has determined that the patient is in need of hospitalization.
(5) Required Report. As to information that the physician or psychotherapist or the patient is required to report to a public employee, or as to information required to be recorded in a public office, if such report or record is open to public inspection, or as to information or matters contained in or reasonably raised by a report submitted under AS 08.64.336, other than information that would establish the identity of a patient, unless the court finds that it is necessary to admit the identifying information in order to serve the interests of justice.
(6) Examination by Order of Judge. As to communications made in the course of an examination ordered by the court of the physical, mental or emotional condition of the patient, with respect to the particular purpose for which the examination is ordered unless the judge orders otherwise. This exception does not apply where the examination is by order of the court upon the request of the lawyer for the defendant in a criminal proceeding in order to provide the lawyer with information needed so that the lawyer may advise the defendant whether to enter a plea based on insanity or to present a defense based on the defendant's mental or emotional condition.
(7) Criminal Proceeding. For physician-patient communications in a criminal proceeding. This exception does not apply to the psychotherapist-patient privilege.
(Added by SCO 345 effective August 1, 1979; amended by SCO 850 effective January 15, 1988; by SCO 1108 effective January 15, 1993; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; and by SCO 1337 effective March 1, 1999)
Note: SCO 1108 incorporated changes in Evidence Rule 504(a)(3) made by the legislature in ch. 129 § 12 SLA 1992. This legislation added the language in subparagraph (a)(3), "or (C) a person licensed as a marital or family therapist under the laws of a state or nation or reasonably believed by the patient so to be, while similarly engaged."
SCO 1108 was entered for the sole reason that the legislature has mandated the above amendment. If ch. 129 § 12 SLA 1992 is invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction, SCO 1108 shall be considered automatically rescinded.
Note to SCO 1337: Evidence Rule 504(a)(3) was amended by § 5 ch. 75 SLA 1998 to expand the definition of "psychotherapist" to include licensed professional counselors. Section 1 of this order is adopted for the sole reason that the legislature has mandated the amendment.
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Copyright 1995-1999 by Touch N' Go Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. No copyright claim is made to the text of the rules.
Last Modified 7/14/1999
