Confidentiality

I'm not in a position to evaluate whether the law in question is wise, effective, or possibly even unconstitutional. But it sure makes me raise an eyebrow:

Keith Emerich, 44, said Tuesday that he disclosed his drinking habit in February to doctors who were treating him at a hospital for an irregular heartbeat.

Emerich received a notice from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in April that his license was being revoked effective May 6 for medical reasons related to substance abuse.

A state law dating to the 1960s requires doctors to report any physical or mental impairments that could compromise a patient's ability to drive safely, PennDOT spokeswoman Joan Nissley said.

And I can not help but note the dripping irony in this statement:

Nissley said she could not discuss the details of Emerich's case because of confidentiality requirements that also protect the doctor from being identified.

Huh. The doctor can (in fact, must) tell the state government what his patient tells him about his alcohol consumption, but the doctor's name is protected by confidentiality. That's an interesting arrangement, to say the least.