Legal aspects of psychotherapeutic publishing

Authors

  • Matthias Prinz
  • Sonja Kohtes

Abstract

The article examines aspects of civil and penal law regarding the publication of therapy reports in Germany. With respect to civil law, the general right of personality of the concerned patients has to be considered. It has to be opposed to the interest of publication of the therapist. With regard to the professional discretion, the general right of personality will generally be more significant. However, the publication will be legitimate if the therapy report is made anonymous in a way that the patient is surely not identifiable. According to the canons of professional etiquette, the professional discretion can only be broken in consent with the patient or for the protection of more significant objects. With respect to penal law, paragraphs 201 and 203 of the German Criminal Code have to be considered. According to paragraph 203, a doctor, psychologist or the like is punishable for the unauthorized disclosure of an alien secret that was entrusted to him.

Key words:
General right of personality; Intimacy; privacy; Interest of publication; Recog-nizability; Anonymization; Professional discretion; Canons of professional etiquette; Criminal law

Author Biographies

Matthias Prinz

Korrespondenz: Dr. Sonja Kohtes, Kanzlei Prinz Neidhardt Engelschall, Tesdorpfstraße 16, 20148 Hamburg, Deutschland

Sonja Kohtes

Korrespondenz: Dr. Sonja Kohtes, Kanzlei Prinz Neidhardt Engelschall, Tesdorpfstraße 16, 20148 Hamburg, Deutschland

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Published

2005-07-01

How to Cite

Prinz, M., & Kohtes, S. (2005). Legal aspects of psychotherapeutic publishing. Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, (3), 123–127. Retrieved from https://psychotherapie-wissenschaft.info/article/view/361

Issue

No. 3 (2005): Psychotherapie Forum 13/3 (veröffentlicht bei Springer Wien New York)

Section

Special Issue

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