Rule 503 of the Texas Rules of Civil Evidence, for example, sets out an evidentiary lawyer-client privilege that the client can assert to keep communications between client and attorney confidential. See also Tex. Rules of Crim. Disciplinary Rules of Prof. Conduct, Rule 1.05. However, the attorney-client privilege has been construed by case law not to include client identity and fee arrangements unless revealing the client's identity and fee arrangement would itself reveal a confidential communication.
Physicians also are subject to confidentiality restrictions.
The Ethics Commission has determined that officers who are physicians do not have to include on their financial statements any information that is made confidential by the Medical Practice Act. Records of the identity, diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of a patient by a physician that are created or maintained by a physician are confidential and privileged and may not be disclosed except as provided in this section. Of significance is that the Medical Practice Act specifically states patient identity is to be kept confidential. The Public Accountancy Act of 1991 makes no such specific reference. Neither do the lawyer-client confidentiality rules.