Article 45. Medical Confidentiality

The fact that a citizen has applied for medical assistance, information about his/her state of health, diagnosis, and other information obtained during examination and treatment shall constitute medical confidentiality.

Persons who become aware of information constituting medical confidentiality in the course of study, professional, service, or other duties may not disclose it without the consent of the citizen or his/her legal representative, except in the cases specified in the third part of this Article.

Disclosure of information constituting medical confidentiality without the consent of the citizen or his/her legal representative shall be permitted in the following cases:

for the purpose of examination and treatment of a citizen who, due to the severity of his/her condition, cannot express his/her will;

when there is a threat of the spread of infectious diseases, mass poisoning, or harmful exposure;

upon request of pre-investigation bodies, inquiry or investigation bodies, the prosecutorʼs office, or the court in connection with pre-trial or judicial proceedings;

when medical assistance is provided to a minor under fourteen years of age, in order to inform his/her parents or legal representatives;

when there are grounds to suspect that harm to the citizenʼs health has been caused by unlawful acts or accidents.

Persons to whom information constituting medical confidentiality has been lawfully provided shall bear liability, equal to that of medical and pharmaceutical workers, for its disclosure.