Confidential relationship; privileged communications, A.R.S. § 32-3283

“Confidential relationship; privileged communications; clients with legal guardians; treatment decisions”
 
Arizona classifies confidential communications between behavioral health professionals and their clients as privileged to the same extent as communications between attorneys and their clients. Consequently, behavioral health professionals may only disclose confidential client communications with the client’s consent. Arizona waives the privilege if the disclosure occurs in connection with a board of behavioral health examiners investigation or hearing. The privilege also does not apply when the behavioral health professional has a duty to warn victims and authorities that their client presents an imminent danger or a duty to report other information as required by law.
 
Arizona authorizes a client’s legal guardian to make treatment decisions on their behalf unless the decision affects the client’s emotional or physical safety, the guardian has agreed to reserve the decision for the client, or a state or federal law authorizes the client to seek behavioral health services without guardian consent.