Short answer: Confidentiality in Swiss rehab is protected by medical professional secrecy under Article 321 of the Swiss Criminal Code, which makes disclosure by doctors and their staff a criminal offence, and by the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nFADP), which classifies health data as sensitive personal data.
The legal framework
- Art. 321 Swiss Criminal Code: doctors, psychologists and their assistants may not disclose patient information without consent.
- nFADP (in force since September 2023): health data is "particularly sensitive" and subject to strict processing rules.
- Cantonal health laws: further patient-rights rules.
Practical discretion measures
- Private entrances and no clinic signage
- Pseudonyms on bookings
- NDAs signed by staff
- Private transfers and secure communications
One-client programmes offer the highest level of discretion. See one-client rehab explained.
Frequently asked questions
Will my employer find out?
Not from the clinic: disclosure requires your written consent.
