Wiles v. Wiles

Fletcher, Justice.

We granted the application for discretionary appeal in this divorce case to determine the scope of the privilege that protects communications between a psychiatrist and patient. We hold the psychiatrist-patient privilege extends to a person authorized to practice medicine who devotes a substantial portion of his or her time in the diagnosis or treatment of a mental or emotional condition, including alcohol or drug addiction.

James Wiles sought the psychiatric records of a patient of his wife Mary Wiles, a licensed medical doctor with a specialty in internal medicine. He…