# "Federal courts do not recognize the physician-patient privilege" Is this true, and if so, why?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-courts-do-not-recognize-the-physician-patient-privilege-is-this-true-and-if-so-why/956222>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 17, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-courts-do-not-recognize-the-physician-patient-privilege-is-this-true-and-if-so-why/956222 "2021-12-17T16:24:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-courts-do-not-recognize-the-physician-patient-privilege-is-this-true-and-if-so-why/956222/1 "2021-12-17T16:24:39Z")

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I was reading this [website and section](https://lawandthemultiverse.com/2011/06/07/the-trial-of-captain-america/) when the phrase “Federal courts do not recognize the physician-patient privilege.” This seems odd to me. Why would there be such an omission in the law? Is it just that it’s never specifically come up? or is the website wrong?

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**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-courts-do-not-recognize-the-physician-patient-privilege-is-this-true-and-if-so-why/956222/2 "2021-12-17T16:30:17Z")

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Appears to be true. The [Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 501](https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rule_501) affords the privilege to a psychotherapist and patient relationship but contains no general doctor-patient privilege. [Found at this site.](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/doctor-patient_privilege#)