Berger V. Sonneland

The example case I chose for breach of confidentiality is Berger v. Sonneland. On July, 1 1993 Mrs. Suzan Berger went to see her doctor, Dr. John Sonneland for a consultation. She said she was having some health problems. She complained of stomach pain, chronic diarrhea, dumping syndrome, throwing up and an over 40 pound weight loss. She stated that her symptoms began at the age of 22 and now at the age of 27 she had endured multiple surgeries. Mrs. Berger told Dr. Sonneland that she was taking a few different drugs, including Tylox, a narcotic used to control pain. Mrs. Berger was consulting with Dr. Sonneland for a new prescription of a narcotic pain medication. Mrs. Berger stated she gave Dr. Sonneland a written release to contact her previous doctor, Dr. Federic E. Eckhauser, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor to get her medical history, but did not have Dr. Hoheim, her former husband, and a past doctor she had seen. She also did not give Dr. Sonneland permission to contact him. She

Sonneland he telephoned Mrs. Berger’s former husband and discussed with him her recent request for the narcotic prescription and her past use of prescription drugs. The former husband took this information and filed a motion in a pending case in the Montana courts to change the custodial plan for the couple's children, stating that Mrs. Berger’s medical condition and drug use justified a change in the custody agreement. Mrs. Berger claims that as a result of Dr. Sonneland's disclosure she developed insomnia and was anxious and stressed at all times, which lead to her becoming physically ill. She believes that the stress caused nausea and vomiting, irritating previous gastrointestinal problems. She states that she lost weight and that because of what happened she no longer trusts physicians. She also claims that she had to spend a significant amount of money for attorney fees to contest the custody