§ 8-53. Communications between physician and patient. - North Carolina Statutes

§8‑53.  Communications between physician and patient.

No person, duly authorized topractice physic or surgery, shall be required to disclose any information whichhe may have acquired in attending a patient in a professional character, andwhich information was necessary to enable him to prescribe for such patient asa physician, or to do any act for him as a surgeon, and no such informationshall be considered public records under G.S. 132‑1. Confidentialinformation obtained in medical records shall be furnished only on theauthorization of the patient, or if deceased, the executor, administrator, or,in the case of unadministered estates, the next of kin. Any resident orpresiding judge in the district, either at the trial or prior thereto, or theIndustrial Commission pursuant to law may, subject to G.S. 8‑53.6, compeldisclosure if in his opinion disclosure is necessary to a proper administrationof justice. If the case is in district court the judge  shall be a districtcourt judge, and if the case is in superior court the judge shall be a superiorcourt judge. (1885, c. 159; Rev., s. 1621; C.S., s. 1798; 1969, c.914; 1977, c. 1118; 1983, c. 410, ss. 1, 2; c. 471.)