Opinion ID: 1708068
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Heading: Does Iowa Code Section 622.10 Bar Disclosure?

Text: Marsha first contends that the mental health professional-patient privilege in Iowa Code section 622.10 bars disclosure of the records in question. Section 622.10 pertinently provides: A practicing attorney, counselor, physician, surgeon, physician's assistant, mental health professional, or the stenographer or confidential clerk of any such person, who obtains information by reason of the person's employment ... shall not be allowed, in giving testimony, to disclose any confidential communication properly entrusted to the person in the person's professional capacity, and necessary and proper to enable the person to discharge the functions of the person's office according to the usual course of practice or discipline. Although psychologists are not statutorily considered physicians, they do fall into the category of mental health professionals mentioned in section 622.10. See generally Iowa Code ch. 154B (regulating practice of psychology). The privilege in section 622.10 is limited to disclosure of confidential communications by the giving of testimony. A subpoena duces tecum does not compel disclosing confidential communications by the giving of testimony. Chidester v. Needles, 353 N.W.2d 849, 851-52 (Iowa 1984) (subpoena does not require disclosure of privileged communications by the giving of testimony); see also Roosevelt Hotel Ltd. Partnership v. Sweeney, 394 N.W.2d 353, 355 (Iowa 1986) (Section 622.10 applies only to the testimonial use of privileged information, ... because it comes into play `in giving testimony.' Testimony is a declaration by a witness in court or during a deposition.). Here all that the board attempted to do was secure Marsha's medical records in Susan's custody by way of subpoena. Susan was not subpoenaed to testify. In short, section 622.10 does not apply.