Family Members’ Medical Info Shielded in Wrongful Death Case

An Arizona skilled nursing facility can’t force the family members of a patient who died while in its care to disclose their own medical records in a wrongful death suit, a state appeals court said.

Arizona’s physician-patient privilege shielded the records from disclosure, and the family members hadn’t waived their privilege, the Arizona Court of Appeals, Second Division, said Thursday. The case presented an issue not previously considered by the court.

Willow Canyon Healthcare Inc. sought the family’s records during the discovery phase of medical malpractice wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Charles Heaphy.

The trial court granted ...