article_snippet: Ms Tiirik also called for laws to be relaxed to allow doctors greater freedoms to flag up patients with mental health problems if doctors are responsible for the live of others.
article_snippet: It is visible to everyone if somebody has a serious physical illness, but when it comes to major mental problems, these are hidden away at any cost for fear of embarrassment or judgement. '
article_snippet: The findings from the investigation have prompted heated debate in Germany on a patient's right to privacy, with Chancellor Angela Merkel proposing an inquiry to re-examine German law.
article_snippet: Draconian legislation was initially brought in after World War Two to prevent a repeat of government spying during the Nazi era and subsequently the Stasi secret police in East Germany.
article_snippet: Further data protection laws traced back to 1907, which enshrines the 'right to your own picture', also mean images can only be published with the individual's consent.
article_snippet: With respect to medical data, the criminal code means doctors are only allowed to breach confidentiality when doctors have reason to believe that sharing doctors knowledge could prevent 'a particularly serious crime' or a threat to someone's life.
article_snippet: doctors can face a year in prison if doctors wrongly breach privacy, but up to five years in jail for withholding 'credible information about the planning or commission' of serious acts like murder.
article_snippet: Despite the variation in sentences, doctors have tended to favour the individual's privacy.
article_snippet: Many in Germany are now debating whether the potential to neutralise threats to public safety should trump doctor-patient privilege.