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KOHN v. FISCH

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department.
Jun 21, 1999
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DECISION ORDER

ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

It is well settled that a party waives the physician-patient privilege by affirmatively putting his or her physical or mental condition in issue ( see, Cynthia B. v. New Rochelle Hosp. Med. Center, 60 N.Y.2d 452, 456-457; Prink v. Rockefeller Center, 48 N.Y.2d 309; Koump v. Smith, 25 N.Y.2d 287; Zimmer v. Cathedral School of St. Mary St. Paul, 204 A.D.2d 538, 539). However, a party does not waive the privilege with respect to unrelated illnesses or treatments ( see, Sadicario v. Stylebuilt Accessories, 250 A.D.2d 830; Zappi v. Pedigree Ski Shop, 244 A.D.2d 331).

In the instant case, the Supreme Court properly determined that the injured plaintiff's psychiatric records were not subject to disclosure once the injured plaintiff withdrew his claims based upon psychological injuries ( see, Strong v. Brookhaven Mem. Hosp. Med. Ctr., 240 A.D.2d 726).