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Court Refuses to Expand Scope Of Attorney-Client Privilege

Court Refuses to Expand Scope Of Attorney-Client Privilege

Court Refuses to Expand Scope Of Attorney-Client Privilege

Washington Court says attorney for hospital may not have confidential talks with physician in ER practice
An appellate court in Washington has refused to follow several federal Circuit Courts of Appeals and refused to permit confidential ex parte communications between an attorney representing a defendant hospital and a physician employed by an outside contractor in the operation of the hospital’s emergency room when the hospital has been sued by a patient. The state Court of Appeals, by a vote of 2-1, has refused to expand the scope of the privilege. A patient was brought to the emergency room after having driven into a power pole in an accident in which his “head penetrated the windshield” of his car. He was treated at Tacoma General Hospital by Dr. David Patterson, an employee of Trauma...

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