1The following persons shall not be obliged to testify on information they know because of their profession, except in cases where they have a duty to report to proceeding authorities:
arepresentatives of religious entities, whose articles of association do not conflict with the Albanian legal order;
blawyers, legal representatives and public notaries;
cdoctors, surgeons, pharmacists, obstetrics and anyone who performs a medical profession;
çthose who perform other professions, who are entitled by law to abstain from testifying on matters related to professional secret.
2If there are reasons to doubt that allegations made by these persons to avoid testimony are not grounded, the court shall order the necessary ascertainment. Where such allegations result to have no grounds, the court shall order the witness to testify.
3Rules provided for in paragraph 1 and 2 shall also apply to professional journalists with regards to the names of persons they have received information from, during the exercise of their profession. However, if such is essential to prove the criminal offence and the truthfulness of such information can only be ascertained through the identification of the source, the court shall order the journalist to disclose the source of his/her information.
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