Physician-patient privilege. (1) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise: (a) Confidential communication means a communication not intended to be disclosed to third persons except: (A) Persons present to further the interest of the patient in the consultation, examination or interview; (B) Persons reasonably necessary for the transmission of the communication; or (C) Persons who are participating in the diagnosis and treatment under the direction of the physician, including members of the patients family. (b) Patient means a person who consults or is examined or interviewed by a physician. (c)(A) Physician means a person authorized and licensed or certified to practice medicine, podiatry or dentistry in any state or nation, or reasonably believed by the patient so to be, while engaged in the diagnosis or treatment of a physical condition. (B) Physician includes licensed or certified naturopathic and chiropractic physicians and dentists. (2) A patient has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any other person from disclosing confidential communications in a civil action, suit or proceeding, made for the purposes of diagnosis or treatment of the patients physical condition, among the patient, the patients physician or persons who are participating in the diagnosis or treatment under the direction of the physician, including members of the patients family. (3) The privilege created by this section may be claimed by: (a) The patient; (b) A guardian or conservator of the patient; (c) The personal representative of a deceased patient; or (d) The person who was the physician, but only on behalf of the patient. Such persons authority so to do is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary. (4) The following is a nonexclusive list of limits on the privilege granted by this section: (a) If the judge orders an examination of the physical condition of the patient, communications made in the course thereof are not privileged under this section with respect to the particular purpose for which the examination is ordered unless the judge orders otherwise. (b) Except as provided in ORCP 44, there is no privilege under this section for communications made in the course of a physical examination performed under ORCP 44. (c) There is no privilege under this section with regard to any confidential communication or record of such confidential communication that would otherwise be privileged under this section when the use of the communication or record is specifically allowed under ORS 426.070, 426.074, 426.075, 426.095, 426.120 or 426.307. This paragraph only applies to the use of the communication or record to the extent and for the purposes set forth in the described statute sections.
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