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RIGHTS OF A MENTAL PATIENT TO PRIVACYWHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE ABOUT SOMEONE CALLING A FRIEND OF MINE MENTALLY ILL IN FRONT OF A GROUP. aPART FROM SLANDER ISN'T THERE SOME RIGHT TO PRIVACY BEING VIOLATED HERE? if i WERE SEEING A THERAPIST FOR EXAMPLE i WOULDN'T WANT EVERYONE AT MY JOB TO KNOW. Attorney answers (1)
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http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/98101-wa-avvo-mod... These are facts that need a lot of clarification, but let me offer some general thoughts: 1. *You* have no recourse. Only your friend can protect his/her rights. 2. On what basis did the person call your friend mentally ill? If it is true, that is a defense. 3. This sounds more like an opinion rather than a false statement. Opinion is generally protected speech. 4. Your friend has a right not to have his/her reputation damaged by slanderous comments. Making an observation based on public facts does not violate privacy rights. 5. Even if a right was violated, there would need to be damages. Something more than embarrassment.
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