[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR1.491]

[Page 34]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
                CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
 
PART 1_GENERAL PROVISIONS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.491  Confidential communications.

    (a) A court order under Sec. Sec. 1.490 through 1.499 of this part 
may authorize disclosure of confidential communications made by a 
patient to a treatment program in the course of diagnosis, treatment, or 
referral for treatment only if:
    (1) The disclosure is necessary to protect against an existing 
threat to life or of serious bodily injury, including circumstances 
which constitute suspected child abuse and neglect and verbal threats 
against third parties;
    (2) The disclosure is necessary in connection with investigation or 
prosecution of an extremely serious crime, such as one which directly 
threatens loss of life or serious bodily injury, including homicide, 
rape, kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, or child 
abuse and neglect; or
    (3) The disclosure is in connection with litigation or an 
administrative proceeding in which the patient offers testimony or other 
evidence pertaining to the content of the confidential communications.
    (b) [Reserved]

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7334)