Position Statement on Confidentiality and Privilege with Special Reference to Psychiatric Patients

This statement was approved by the Council of the American Psychiatric Association in December 1966 upon recommendation of the Association's Committee on Ethics. The Judicial Council of the American Medical Association has agreed "that the statements regarding ethical principles contained in it are in accord with the Principles of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association" (memorandum from the secretary of the Judicial Council to the Council on Mental Health, June 28, 1967). The Council on Mental Health of the American Medical Association endorses the statement (letter from the director, Department of Mental Health, AMA, to the Medical Director, APA, August 8, 1967). "The statement has been reviewed by the Executive Committee of the American College Health Association and approved in principle as being consistent with the Recommended Standards and Practices for a College Health Program of the Association" (letter from the executive secretary, ACHA, to the Medical Director, APA, January 18, 1967).