Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32. Professions and Occupations § 32-1940. Investigations; hearings; conferences; records; confidentiality

A. Information received and records kept by the board in connection with investigations conducted pursuant to this chapter are confidential and are not open to the public or subject to civil discovery.

B. Notwithstanding any other law or code of ethics regarding practitioner confidences, the physician-patient privilege between a medical practitioner and a patient, both as it relates to the competency of the witness and to the exclusion of confidential communications, does not pertain to any board investigations or other proceedings conducted pursuant to this chapter to the extent necessary to determine whether a violation of this chapter has occurred. Communications or records disclosed pursuant to this subsection are confidential and may be used only in a judicial or administrative proceeding or investigation resulting from a report, investigation or hearing required or authorized under this chapter.

C. The board, its employees and agents and any other person receiving this information shall keep the identity of the patient confidential at all times.

D. The board shall report evidence of a crime uncovered during an investigation to the appropriate criminal justice agency.

E. This section does not prevent the board from disclosing investigative materials concerning a licensee's alleged violation of this chapter to the licensee, the licensee's attorney, another state or federal regulatory agency or a law enforcement agency.