New York Laws
Article 45 - Evidence
4504 - Physician, Dentist, Podiatrist, Chiropractor and Nurse.

(b) Identification by dentist; crime committed against patient under
sixteen. A dentist shall be required to disclose information necessary
for identification of a patient. A physician, dentist, podiatrist,
chiropractor or nurse shall be required to disclose information
indicating that a patient who is under the age of sixteen years has been
the victim of a crime.
(c) Mental or physical condition of deceased patient. A physician or
nurse shall be required to disclose any information as to the mental or
physical condition of a deceased patient privileged under subdivision
(a), except information which would tend to disgrace the memory of the
decedent, either in the absence of an objection by a party to the
litigation or when the privilege has been waived:
1. by the personal representative, or the surviving spouse, or the
next of kin of the decedent; or
2. in any litigation where the interests of the personal
representative are deemed by the trial judge to be adverse to those of
the estate of the decedent, by any party in interest; or
3. if the validity of the will of the decedent is in question, by the
executor named in the will, or the surviving spouse or any heir-at-law
or any of the next kin or any other party in interest.
(d) Proof of negligence; unauthorized practice of medicine. In any
action for damages for personal injuries or death against a person not
authorized to practice medicine under article 131 of the education law
for any act or acts constituting the practice of medicine, when such act
or acts were a competent producing proximate or contributing cause of
such injuries or death, the fact that such person practiced medicine
without being so authorized shall be deemed prima facie evidence of
negligence.

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