People v Wright

Holding The court reversed the conviction and granted a new trial because the trial court erroneously admitted testimony from the defendant’s treating physician and nurse that violated the physician-patient privilege under CPLR 4504(a). The court held that the Tarasoff exception did not authorize the disclosure of privileged information at trial four years after the incident, as the exigent circumstances had ceased to exist.

The court’s words

The Tarasoff exception authorized the treating physician and nurse to disclose privileged information about defendant to the police because a baby's life may have been in jeopardy and time was of the essence.

2026 NY Slip Op 04573, at the official text

The exception did not, however, authorize the physician and nurse to testify at trial some four years later about the privileged information.

2026 NY Slip Op 04573, at the official text

It is one thing to permit medical personnel to disclose information to an agency under mandated reporting statutes, but it is quite another to allow the introduction of those same statements . . . at a criminal proceeding

2026 NY Slip Op 04573, at the official text

We cannot conclude that the evidence of defendant's guilt, without reference to the error, is overwhelming, and therefore the error is not harmless

2026 NY Slip Op 04573, at the official text