Introduction and objective:
Medical staff are obliged to keep all information about the patient obtained during the provision of health services in confidentiality, also after the patient›s death. The aim of the article is to raise the legal awareness of medical staff in the field of legal obligations related with professional secrecy after the death of a patient.

Review methods:
The article is based on the data contained in the Polish Legal Information System „LEX”. Additionally, the Internet System of Legal Acts was used.

Brief description of the state of knowledge:
Professional secrecy is regulated by the Act of 6 November 2008 on patient rights and patient rights Ombudsman, the Act of 5 December 1996 on doctors and dentists professions, the Code of Medical Ethics, and the Act of 5 September 2015 on physiotherapist profession. According to the civil law, all personal rights expire after death, nevertheless, the obligation of professional secrecy of medical staff does not expire at the time of the patient’s death. It also remains in effect after the patient›s death with some exceptions. Doubts are raised by a relatively large group of people authorized to information about the deceased which, in turn, contradicts the idea of professional secrecy as a guarantee of privacy and confidentiality. Notification of the death of a patient is not the same as breaking medical secrecy.

Summary:
Professional confidentiality obliges medical staff to keep secret all information related to the patient obtained during medical care. It does not cease at the moment of death, which is the result of a special relationship and trust in medical staff and respect for the human being as an autonomous unit.