§ 22 §815 — Privileged or confidential communications

1.
Privileges abrogated.
Subject to the limitations imposed by United States Code, Title 42, Sections 290dd-3 and 290ee-3, the physician-patient and psychotherapist-patient privileges under the Maine Rules of Evidence and those confidential communications described under Title 5, section 19203, Title 24‑A, section 4224, Title 32, section 7005 and Title 34‑B, section 1207 are abrogated to the extent necessary to permit reporting to the Bureau of Health any incidents of notifiable disease or condition; cooperating with the Bureau of Health or an intervention team appointed by the Bureau of Health in investigating a case of a notifiable disease or condition or suspected epidemic, or taking preventive action in such a case; or giving evidence in a proceeding pursuant to this chapter. Information released to the bureau pursuant to this section must be kept confidential and may not be disclosed by the bureau except as provided in section 824 and Title 5, section 19203, subsection 8.
2.
Limitation.
Statements made to a licensed mental health or medical professional in the course of counseling, diagnosis, therapy, treatment or evaluation when the privilege is abrogated under this section may not be used against the client in a criminal proceeding.

Legislative History

PL 1989, c. 487, §11 (NEW). PL 2005, c. 383, §13 (AMD).