§ 1022 [Deceased Patient Writing Validity Exception]

When someone dies, their doctor cannot keep medical information private if that information is relevant to a legal dispute about a will, deed, or other document the person signed before they died.

For example, if family members are fighting over whether a deceased person was mentally competent when they signed a will or transferred property, a doctor who treated that person may be required to share what they know. The normal rule that protects medical conversations between a patient and doctor does not apply in these situations.