Duty of confidentiality imposed by law on doctor?

If the doc tells anybody anything about you.... that is MALPRACTICE for which you can sue his butt (unless you give him/her permission as when you are referred to another doc). One of the reasons we go to ANY doc is because we trust them. That includes maintaining confidentiality.

If there is evidence of a crime such as a bullet wound, sexual abuse, abuse of a child or any crime, the law protects the person or child or anybody who is a victim. in these cases the law states the doc MUST report it. Since it is required by law he/she is protecting the victim and can not be sued.

Another View: The ethics of the AMA (American Medical Association) and the doctors profession impose an ETHICAL code of silence on him - The LAW respects and acknowledges this ETHICAL practice but the doctor's "code of confidentiality," is NOT necessarily codifed in the law in all jurisdictions. Also, as mentioned in the previous answer, there are many exceptions to it. ADDITIONALLY: Within recent times the 'Health Information Privacy and Portability Act' (HIPPA) places further restrictions on medical practitioners and medical facilities.