RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Testimonial privilege and the problem of death: the Vincent Foster case and beyond JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law SP 639 OP 648 VO 26 IS 4 A1 SH Behnke YR 1998 UL http://jaapl.org/content/26/4/639.abstract AB This article discusses what happens to testimonial privilege following a patient's death. First, the article reviews the concepts of confidentiality and testimonial privilege. Second, the article discusses the case of Jaffe v. Redmond, in which the Supreme Court ruled that testimonial privilege applies to licensed psychotherapists under Rule 501 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Third, the article examines the case of Swidler & Berlin v. United States, in which the Supreme Court directly addressed the question of whether testimonial privilege survives death. Finally, the article comments on the implications of these rulings for mental health professionals.