Physician-Patient Privilege Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Physician-Patient Privilege.

Physician-Patient Privilege (noun):

This is a legal concept that maintains that any personal and confidential information a patient shares with his/her physician should not be disclosed by the physician, especially in a legal context such as during a trial. It safeguards the trust between a patient and a physician, and violation of this principle can lead to legal action against the physician. However, this privilege can be waived with the patient's consent, permitting the physician to disclose such information.