Paula Patient doesn't want her violent boyfriend to know that she's getting an abortion, so she asks Dr. Bob to send all commmunications to her to a post office box and to phone her only at work. What should Dr. Bob do, and what is the legal basis for your advice? If she tells Dr. Bob that not doing this will endanger her, would your answer be different?

Answer 1

Dr. Bob can only legally communicate about his patient directly to that patient. He cannot say anything to any of her friends and family without her express direction to do so.