State ex rel. J.A.

h KNOLL, Justice. *

This is a proceeding to involuntarily terminate parental rights. The sole issue presented for our determination is whether evidence of a parent’s mental illness may be excluded under the health care provider-patient privilege in a termination of parental rights proceeding brought under La. Child. Code art. 1015(5). After a careful and thorough review of the record and the law, we conclude for the reasons expressed below that the lower courts erred in precluding the evidence proffered by the State. All parties having stipulated that the child was a child in need of care,…