Medical secrecy and the pathologist's obligation of notification
Strubel, B.J.; Schwerd, W.
Münchener Medizinische Wochenschrift 121(32-33): 1043-1045
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-3098 PMID: 112466 Document Number: 153447
The pathologist, like every other doctor, is pledged to secrecy. The pledge of secrecy also extends to what he has found in the body of the deceased be they secrets of the patient or of a third party. Third party secrets are not protected by the obligation of secrecy if safequarding them would be against the "projected interests of the patient". The present obligation to notify according to the burial laws of some states applies to pathologists even when possible medical contributary faults are established, but he faces a dilemma which cannot be solved juridically at present. Alteration of the law should take this into account.