Chiropractors not protected by dr/patient confidentiality?

[sillyhead]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post this in, but I was just wondering if anyone knows off the top of his head if this is true or not.

Was just watching a L&O episode and the detective told a chiropractor this. Yes, yes, I know L&O is fiction and stuff, but I'm just wondering.

 

[Mister Earl]

As far as I know, Chiropractors aren't part of the American Medical Association, mostly because they're quack medicine. They cobbled together their own association to give it some look of legitimacy. If the dr/patient confidentiality thing is a rule of the AMA, then the answer would be no, they're not bound by it.

 

[BowlOfRed]

It's not just an association thing, it's a legal thing. As in a doctor may legally invoke privilege and refuse to give testimony about a patient's medical condition in most circumstances.

My understanding is that the scope varies from state to state. I would assume there's some state law that describes what a "doctor patient relationship" is. It may or may not include chiropractors.

 

[BowlOfRed]

Assuming they were still in New York in the episode, it would not currently be true. Chiropractors (and podiatrists) are explicitly mentioned.

http://law.onecle.com/new-york/civil-practice-law-rules/CVP04504_4504.html

 

[firecoins]

it DOES include chiropractors. HIPPA and other privacy laws includes nurses, paramedics, emts, patient care techs, PAs, billing staff, administration and anyone who worked in a healthcare setting.

 

[Emet]

2006 New York Code - Physician, Dentist, Podiatrist, Chiropractor And Nurse.

§ 4504. Physician, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor and nurse. (a)
Confidential information privileged. Unless the patient waives the
privilege, a person authorized to practice medicine, registered
professional nursing, licensed practical nursing, dentistry, podiatry or
chiropractic shall not be allowed to disclose any information which he
acquired in attending a patient in a professional capacity, and which
was necessary to enable him to act in that capacity.

http://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2006/civil-practice-law-rules/cvp04504_4504.html

 

[Prometheus]

2006 New York Code - Physician, Dentist, Podiatrist, Chiropractor And Nurse.

§ 4504. Physician, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor and nurse. (a)
Confidential information privileged. Unless the patient waives the
privilege, a person authorized to practice medicine, registered
professional nursing, licensed practical nursing, dentistry, podiatry or
chiropractic shall not be allowed to disclose any information which he
acquired in attending a patient in a professional capacity, and which was necessary to enable him to act in that capacity.

http://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2006/civil-practice-law-rules/cvp04504_4504.html

OTOH, just what information would be necessary to enable a chiropractor to do nothing which helps the patient in any way?

 

[sillyhead]

Thanks, I was just curious.