Opinion ID: 1401794
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: charter river records

Text: Prior to trial, the State moved for disclosure of medical records from Charter Rivers Hospital pertaining to treatment Terry received there from August 21st-30th, 1994, [8] approximately three months after the murder. The solicitor had information the admission was for anger control and substance abuse and contended the records were relevant to the penalty phase of a capital trial insofar as they reflected the character of the defendant. The defense argued the records were not discoverable under Rule 5, citing State v. Parker [9] and McMakin v. Bruce Hospital. [10] The trial court ordered disclosure. We find no error. Although S.C.Code Ann. § 19-11-95(B)(1) prohibits a mental health provider from knowingly revealing confidences of patients, an exception is set forth in § 19-11-95(D)(1) which provides, in pertinent part: (D) A provider shall reveal: (1) confidences when required by statutory law or by court order for good cause shown to the extent that the patient's care and treatment or the nature and extent of his mental illness or emotional condition are reasonably at issue in a proceeding... (emphasis supplied). Given that this is a capital case, the jury was required to assess Terry's character. State v. Tucker, 324 S.C. 155, 478 S.E.2d 260 (1996) (it is essential the jury in a capital case have all possible relevant information about the individual defendant whose fate it must determine; jury's attention must be focused on both the specific circumstances of the crime and the characteristics of the person who committed it). See also Woodson v. North Carolina, 428 U.S. 280, 304, 96 S.Ct. 2978, 2991, 49 L.Ed.2d 944, 961 (1976) (in capital cases, the Eighth Amendment requires consideration of the character and record of the individual offender as a constitutionally indispensable part of the process of inflicting the penalty of death); State v. Green, 301 S.C. 347, 392 S.E.2d 157 (1990), cert. denied 498 U.S. 881, 111 S.Ct. 229, 112 L.Ed.2d 183 (evidence of defendant's character properly admitted in penalty phase of a capital trial). Accordingly, we find Terry's mental and emotional status were reasonably at issue in the proceeding and the trial court properly ordered disclosure pursuant to § 19-11-95(D). See generally Wanda Ellen Wakefield, Annotation, Physician-Patient Privilege as Extending to Patient's Medical or Hospital Records, § 7, 10 A.L.R.4th 552 (1981) (majority of jurisdictions permit introduction of such records in criminal trials under similar statutory exceptions). Terry also asserts the trial court failed to make a sufficient showing of factual necessity to warrant disclosure as required by S.C.Code Ann. § 44-22-100, and this Court's opinions in McMakin and Parker. We disagree. Section 44-22-100 permits disclosure if a court directs disclosure is necessary for the conduct of proceedings before it and that failure to make the disclosure is contrary to the public interest. The trial court here specifically found the records were necessary, [11] that good cause had been shown, that other means were unavailable to obtain the information, and that public need outweighed the need for privacy. Here, given that the state did not know precisely what information was contained in the Charter Rivers Records, it is patent it could not have discovered the information through other means. [12] Further, we find good cause was shown by the state insofar as the records were relevant to the defendant's character. Finally, in his case in mitigation, Terry's expert, Jan Vogelsang, testified concerning his explosive outbursts, use of alcohol and drugs, and the fact that he could adapt to prison with appropriate intervention. Vogelsang specifically testified concerning the diagnoses from Charter Rivers. Moreover, Terry's three other experts relied on these records in testifying during his case in mitigation. Accordingly, given Terry's own reliance on these records as mitigating evidence, we discern no prejudice. The trial court properly ordered disclosure of the records to the state. Terry's remaining issue is affirmed pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR, and the following authorities. State v. Nance, 320 S.C. 501, 466 S.E.2d 349, cert. denied, 518 U.S. 1026, 116 S.Ct. 2566, 135 L.Ed.2d 1083 (1996) (relevance, materiality and admissibility of photographs are matters within the sound discretion of the trial court); State v. Kornahrens, 290 S.C. 281, 350 S.E.2d 180 (1986).