32 N.Y.2d 379 | NY | 1973
Lead Opinion
The principal question posed by this appeal—one of first impression—is whether the Director of the New York City Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program may validly refuse — when so authorized by the Attorney General of the United States and the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) pursuant to federal legislation— to comply with a grand jury subpoena directing him to produce photographs of certain of his patients.
Talmadge Berry was shot and killed in Manhattan on June 7, 1972. A witness to the shooting told the police that she believed she had previously seen the killer in the waiting room of a methadone maintenance treatment clinic (known as Unit Number Two of the Francis Delafield Hospital Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program) where she was also a patient. Some time later, based on this information, a subpoena was •served on Dr. Robert Newman —the Director of the New York
A motion was subsequently made to quash the subpoena on the ground that both Federal legislation and New York law— CPLR 4504 (subd. [a]) ■—prohibited production of the photographs. That motion was denied and Dr. Newman was thereafter adjudged to be in contempt of court and sentenced to 30 days in jail. Although the Appellate Division recognized that the refusal of the appellant, Dr. Newman, to obey the subpoena was “ [apparently motivated by the highest ethical canons of the medical profession in respect of confidential relations' with a patient,” it agreed with Special Term that Dr. Newman was guilty of contempt (40 A D 2d 633, 634; 40 A D 2d 672).
In our court, as below, the appellant relies on both New York law (CPLR 4504, subd. [a]) and the Federal legislation enacted in 1970 (Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 [P.L. 91-513; 84 U. S. Stat. 1236]).
Under State Law
Subdivision (a) of CPLR 4504, entitled “ Confidential information privileged ”, provides that, “ Unless the patient waives the privilege, a person authorized to practice medicine * * _* shall not be allowed to disclose any information which he acquired in attending a patient in a professional capacity, and which was necessary to enable him to act in that capacity.” Although it is doubtless true, as the appellant’s affidavit recites, that the photos are ‘ ‘ an absolutely indispensable component of the patient records ’ ’ because they ensure proper identification of the patient and thus avoid administration of methadone to the wrong person, we do not regard them — to employ the words of the statute •—■ as having been ‘
Under Federal Law
Dr. Newman, as already indicated, also urges that the Federal Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-513; 84 U. S. Stat. 1236)—hereafter referred to as the 1970 Act — and regulations issued under that Act prevent him from releasing the photographs. The District Attorney, on the other hand, contends that, pursuant to the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-255; 86 U. S. Stat. 65) —hereafter referred to as the 1972 Act — the directors of methadone maintenance programs may be compelled to produce those records upon court order. Therefore, the issue posed upon this appeal is whether the 1972 Act repealed the 1970 Act insofar as the confidentiality of a patient’s record is concerned.
Subdivision (a) of section 3 of the 1970 Act (U. S. Code, tit. 42, § 242a, subd. [a]) and subdivision (c) of section 502 (U. S.
Be that as it may, in that month, the 1972 Act—which, we note, was born of Congressional recognition that “ [c]ontrol of drug abuse requires the development of a comprehensive, coordinated long-term Federal strategy ’ ’ (U. S. Code, tit. 21, § 1101, subd. [8]) —was enacted. Instead of sanctioning a grant of absolute confidentiality, similar to that provided by the 1970 Act for drug research programs, the 1972 Act authorized disclosure upon court order of the records of patients in a wide variety of drug programs and activities, entitled 1 £ drug abuse prevention functions.”
After the 1972 Act had been enacted, the Secretary of HEW and the Attorney General each exercised his power under the
A little more than a week after the Attorney General had granted absolute confidentiality to Dr. Newman’s methadone program, the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention — established by the 1972 Act to “provide overall planning and policy and establish objectives and priorities for all Federal drug abuse prevention functions ” (U. S. Code, tit. 21, § 1131, subd. [a])—prepared, “in consultation with the Department of Justice and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, ” an “ interpretative regulation ” to “ deal comprehensively ’ ’ with section 408, the confidentiality provision of the 1972 Act (37 Federal Register 24636). “ If society is to make significant progress in the struggle against drug abuse,” the regulation read, the directors of “ drug abuse treatment programs ’ ’ must be able ‘1 to assure patients and prospective
‘ ‘ Nothing in either the language or the legislative history of the [1972] Act indicates any intent on the part of Congress to amend the [confidentiality] provisions of the 1970 Act or to reduce the protection which can be afforded under them. * * * the language of section 408 permits * * * a construction which harmonizes with the 1970 Act [and] clearly should not be construed to authorize a court order in derogation of any exercise of the authority of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare * * * or the Attorney General”.
The interpretation of the Special Action Office—that the 1972 confidentiality provision neither “ amend [ed] the [confidentiality] provisions of the 1970 Act ” nor “ reduce [d] the protection afforded under them” (37 Federal Register 24639) —is reasonable and persuasive. The authority in the 1970 Act to grant absolute confidentiality was designed to help ensure the success of drug research programs in which addict participants require anonymity (see, e.g., 1970 U. S. Code Cong. and Admin. News 4594-4595). A similar guarantee of anonymity was not, however, thought to be necessary in the 1972 Act because that statute covered a wide range of programs and activities (“ drug abuse prevention functions ”) in which absolute confidentiality was not regarded as a prerequisite to successful operation of the programs.
For example, the success of a drug abuse education program, or of a job training program for medical aides—which are “ drug abuse prevention functions ” within the terms of the 1972 Act — does not depend upon the participants being assured of complete anonymity. Presumably, no one would refuse to participate in such programs—in contrast with a methadone maintenance program—because his picture might be exhibited
It is of high significance that the other governmental agencies which, along with the Special Action Office, actually administer, co-ordinaté and implement the 1970 and 1972 Acts have agreed with that agency’s interpretation that the 1972 Act did not repeal or modify the absolute confidentiality provision of the 1970 Act. Not only did the Secretary of HEW—as well as the Attorney General — grant Dr. Newman’s program absolute confidentiality under the 1970 Act after the 1972 Act had been enacted (37 Federal Register 6943; 37 Federal Register 26800) but the Department of Health, Education and Welfare — along with the Special Action Office—filed a brief amicus curiae for the United States of America in support of the appellant’s position.
Indeed, after noting that the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs are ‘ ‘ the most important drug addiction research programs presently in existence ’ ’ and that their ‘ ‘ long range success * * * depends on the ability of each program director to promise to each participant, unconditionally, that his participation in the program will not be disclosed,” the authors of the Government’s brief went on to point out that “ the United States Congress has enacted legislation over the last few years to encourage research into [the] causes and cures [of narcotics addiction]. In order to induce those suffering from drug addiction * * * to participate in these research programs, Congress enacted [in 1970] a statute granting absolute confidentiality to such participants, upon proper authorization. # * # [T]his. federal statute is in full force and effect and is fully applicable to Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs.”
The construction thus given to the legislation by the very agencies charged with its administration, supervision and enforcement is entitled to considerable weight. (See, e.g., Matter of Howard v. Wyman, 28 N Y 2d 434, 438; Lewis v. Martin, 397 U. S. 552, 559; Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, 395 U. S.
Certainly, as noted above, it may not be said that the interpretation accorded the 1972 Act by the Special Action Office as part of a “ comprehensive, coordinated long-term Federal strategy ” against drug abuse was either “irrational” or “unreasonable.” The confidentiality provision of the 1972 Act applies to “ drug abuse prevention functions ” in general, while the absolute confidentiality provision of the 1970 Act applies to drug research programs, such as Dr. Newman’s, where the success of the program depends upon the ability of the director to guarantee each patient that his participation will not be disclosed to anyone not connected with the program.
Our conclusion that the 1972 Act effected no repeal or modification of the 1970 provision is strengthened by the long-standing rule that, unless there is clear evidence of a legislative design to repeal or modify an earlier piece of legislation—and assuredly, no such explicit design is here present — we must, if at all possible, give full effect to both statutes. (See, e.g., People v. Mann, 31 N Y 2d 253, 257-258; Matter of Board of Educ. of City of N. Y. v. Allen, 6 N Y 2d 127, 141-142; Cimo v. State of New York, 306 N. Y. 143, 148-149; Trade Comm. v. A. P. W. Paper Co., 328 U. S. 193, 202; United States v. Borden Co., 308 U. S. 188, 198-199.)
The order appealed from should be reversed, the adjudication of contempt vacated, and the motion to quash the subpoena granted.
. The Appellate Division modified Special Term’s order by adding to the subpoena “ appropriate safeguards against unnecessary disclosure ”: the witness to the homicide was to “ view the photos under supervision of [Dr. Newman] or someone designated by him” and none of the pictures other than the one identified by the witness were to be exhibited to the police or prosecutor (40 A D 2d 633, 634).
. In the view which we have taken on this aspect of the ease, it is unnecessary to consider whether title VI (Public Health Law, § 3370 et seq.) of the recently enacted New York State Controlled Substances Act (Public Health Law, art. 33) would also preclude the photos from being “ deemed confidential within the meaning of the civil practice law and rules” (Public Health Law, § 3373).
. Subdivision (b) of section 103 of the 1972 Act (U. S. Code, tit. 21, § 1103, subd. [b]) defined “drug abuse prevention function” as “any program or activity relating to drug abuse education, training, treatment, rehabilitation, or research, and includes any such function even when performed by an organization whose primary mission is * unrelated to drugs.”
. The regulation — entitled “ Methadone: Proposed Special Requirements for Use” — was first published in the Federal Register on April 6, 1972 — prior, we note, to the issuance of the subpoena in this ease — and was promulgated by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, pursuant to the authority vested in him by the Secretary of HEW (37 Federal Register 6940). It was published in final form on December 15, 1972, and became effective on that date (37 Federal Register 26790, 26800, 26806).
. The letter read in this way: “I hereby authorize you to withhold the names and other identifying characters of persons who are the subjects of research conducted pursuant to and in conformity with this research project. You may not be compelled in any Federal, State, or local civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceeding to identify the subjects of such research.”
. To support his contention that the 1972 Act effected a repeal of the provision authorizing absolute confidentiality to drug research programs by the 1970 Act, the respondent District Attorney points to statements of individual members of Congress made during its debate on the 1972 Act. Such reliance is misplaced. It has long been established that, since such statements tend to show the thinking of a few legislators rather than the intent of Congress as a whole, they “are not a safe guide, and hence may not be resorted to, in ascertaining the meaning and purpose of the law-making body.” (Duplex Co. v. Deering, 254 U. S. 443, 474; see, e.g., Zuber v. Allen, 396 U. S. 168, 186; United States v. Freight Assn., 166 U. S. 290, 318-319; 2 Sutherland, Statutes and Statutory Construction [3d ed.], § 5011; see, also, with respect to New York Legislature, Matter of Morse [Bank of Amer.], 247 N. Y. 290, 302-303; Woollcott v. Shubert, 217 N. Y. 212, 221.)
Dissenting Opinion
Upon a showing that a witness to a homicide believed she had seen the killer, a fellow-patient, in the waiting room of a methadone clinic, the Appellate Division sustained a subpoena duces tecum to produce photographs of certain patients from the files of the clinic for the witness to view under carefully circumscribed conditions. The court order was authorized under a Federal statute controlling the confidentiality of patient records which provides in part:
“ (b) (2) If the patient * # * does not give his written consent, the content of such record may be disclosed as follows :
* * *
“ (0) If authorized by an appropriate order of a court of competent jurisdiction after application showing good cause therefor. In assessing good cause the court shall weigh the public interest and the need for disclosure against the injury to the patient, to the physician-patient relationship, and to the treatment services. Upon the granting of such order, the court, in determining the extent to which any disclosure of all or any part of any record is necessary, shall impose appropriate safeguards against unauthorized disclosure.
“ (c) Except as authorized by a court order granted under subsection (b) (2) (0) of this section, no record referred to in*391 subsection (a) of this section may be used to initiate or substantiate any criminal charges against a patient or to conduct any investigation of a patient. ’ ’ (U. S. Code, tit. 21, § 1175.)
The effect of thé statute is to place in the court the sole power to disclose a patient’s record after balancing the several interests involved. That is what it says. There are no qualifications. It does not give any primary or secondary role in the disclosure to the program officials or to supervisory administrators.
Ordinarily, one would look no further to legislative history because the meaning is patent. However, resort to the legislative history, even if some might regard such resort as unnecessary in the face of the statutory language, produces the same result.
This section is part of comprehensive Federal legislation entitled The Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 controlling drug treatment and rehabilitation programs. If the proper interpretation of a statute is in doubt, reference may be made to changes and proposed changes of the bill during its passage to determine the legislative intent (Woollcott v. Shubert, 217 N. Y. 212, 221; McKinney’s Cons. Laws of N. Y., Book 1, Statutes, § 125, esp. p. 258). A preliminary draft bill of this law, introduced in the Senate on June 18, 1971, contained no provision for the confidentiality of methadone patients’ records (117 Cong. Rec. 20786-20787). The bill was amended in committee providing that the records were to be confidential, and precluding their use by prosecutors (Sen. Rep. Nos. 92-486, 92-509). The House version of the bill had no confidentiality provision.
The law enacted was a compromise drafted by the House-Senate Conference Committee (Conf. Rep. No. 92-920). It included a confidentiality clause with the provision quoted above, incorporating an idea expressed by Senator Hruska, allowing patients’ records to be subpoenaed by court order (117 Cong. Rec. 44069).
The Federal regulation relying on a 1970 statute would not have permitted the disclosure ordered in this instance. True, the regulation states (37 Federal Register 24639) that “Nothing in either the language or the legislative history of the [1972] Act indicates any intent on the part of Congress to amend the provisions of the 1970 Act or to reduce the protection which can
In sum, given the plain language of the statute and the equally plain supporting legislative history, judicial control over the confidentiality of patients’ records in the program is established. The recent postenactment gloss on the legislative intention by the administrative officials is of no significance, especially when it is contradictory of the language of the statute. It was quite wise for the Congress to leave the matter in the discretion of the courts, rather than with the director of the program, with the mandate to serve the policy of the legislation and yet protect innocents and the larger public policy of the State. Even if ambiguous language were involved, one should hesitate to ascribe a meaning to it which may very well mean in this ease that a murderer should go free. I would make no such ascription because the language is quite clear, and I would not unless the language, the legislative history, or long continuous administrative construction compelled it.
Judges Bueke, Jokes and Wachtleb concur with Chief Judge Fuld ; Judge Bbeitel dissents and votes to affirm in a separate opinion in which Judges Jasek and G-abbielli concur.
Order reversed, without costs, the adjudication of contempt vacated and the motion to quash the subpoena granted.
The McKinney’s text states the rule as follows:
“ Generally, a court should not hide behind the ruling of an administrative officer or agency and thus escape the duty to interpret the statute, since the court is the final arbiter as to the proper construction. In other words, a court should not blindly follow the rulings of administrative officers in construing statutes. Even though practical construction by an officer or agency charged with administration of a statute, especially when followed by a long period of time, is entitled to great weight and may not be ignored, such an interpretation is not necessarily binding on court.
“If an act is not ambiguous, there is no room for the doctrine of practical construction, for the courts must effectuate the plainly expressed intention of the Legislature without regard to the opinion of public officers. * * *
“ In any event, doubtful meaning of a statute cannot be clarified or aided by practical construction of officers unless it first appears that such construction has been long established and continuous.”
