Breach of medical confidence in Ohio.

In Ohio, the principle of confidentiality embodied in the Hippocratic Oath is more than an ethical principle espoused by the medical profession.' For physicians licensed to practice within this state, by virtue of Section 4731.22 of the Ohio Revised Code, the principle is a legal obligation, the breach of which may subject the practitioner to disciplinary action up to and including revocation of his medical license. Unfortunately, the Ohio Revised Code's section on physician licensing is no more specific than the Hippocratic Oath in defining what "ought" not be disclosed. Furthermore, the medical licensing section applies only to a small fraction of those who have access to medical secrets. A multitude of social workers, health care professionals, insurance industry personnel and others have access to patient information equally capable of stigmatizing a patient for life.'