Privileged Communication

Privileged communication is an interaction between two parties in which the law recognizes a private, protected relationship. Whatever is communicated between the parties remains confidential, and the law cannot force their disclosure. Even disclosure by one of the parties comes with legal limitations. There are, however, exceptions that can invalidate a privileged communication and various circumstances under which it can be waived, either deliberately or unintentionally. Commonly cited relationships where privileged communication exists are those between attorney and client, doctor or therapist and patient, and priest and parishioner.