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1、InreLifschutzSupremeCourtofCalifornia2Cal.3d415;467P.2d557April15,1970OPINION:Dr.JosephE.Lifschutz,apsychiatristpracticinginCalifornia,seeksawritofhabeascorpustosecurehisreleasefromthecustodyoftheSheriffoftheCountyofSanMateo.Dr.Lifschutzwasimprisonedafterhewasadjud
2、gedincontemptofcourtforrefusingtoobeyanorderoftheSanMateoCountySuperiorCourtinstructinghimtoanswerquestionsandproducerecordsrelatingtocommunicationswithaformerpatient.Dr.Lifschutzcontendsthatthisunderlyingcourtorderwasinvalidasunconstitutionallyinfringinghispersona
3、lconstitutionalrightofprivacy,hisrighteffectivelytopracticehisprofession,andtheconstitutionalprivacyrightsofhispatients.Healsoattackstheorder,ormorespecifically,thestatutoryprovisionswhichauthorizethecompulsionofhistestimonyinthesecircumstances,asunconstitutionally
4、denyinghimtheequalprotectionofthelawssince,underCalifornialaw,clergymencouldnotbecompelledtorevealcertainconfidentialcommunicationsunderthesecircumstances.ThisproceedingaroseoutofsuitinstitutedbyJosephF.HousekagainstJohnArabianonJune3,1968,fordamagesresultingfroman
5、allegedassault.Housek'scomplaintallegedthattheassaultcausedhim"physicalinjuries,pain,sufferingandseverementalandemotionaldistress."DefendantArabiandeposedtheplaintiff(Housek)andduringthecourseofthatdepositionHousekstatedthathehadreceivedpsychiatrictreatmentfromDr.L
6、ifschutzoverasix-monthperiodapproximately10yearsearlier.NothingintherecordindicatesthattheplaintiffrevealedthenatureorcontentsofanyconversationwithortreatmentbyDr.Lifschutz.DefendantArabianthensubpoenaedfordepositionDr.Lifschutzandallofhismedicalrecordsrelatingtoth
7、etreatmentofHousek.(CodeCiv.Proc.,§§2016,2019,subd.(a).)AlthoughDr.Lifschutzappearedforthedeposition,herefusedtoproduceanyofhismedicalrecordsandrefusedtoansweranyquestionsrelatingtohistreatmentofpatients;thepsychiatristdeclinedeventodisclosewhetherornotHousekhadcon
8、sultedhimorhadbeenhispatient.Althoughnotified,neitherplaintiffHouseknorhisattorneywaspresentatthisdepositionandneitherhasappearedinanyofthesubseq