§ 2-268. Patients' records at municipal hospitals—Ownership and use generally.

(a)

All municipal hospital medical records are the property of the hospital, the duty of which it is to protect and preserve them. Ownership of such records, however, is restricted by the rights of the patients.

(b)

Information contained in medical records, such as name, address, age and other information serving to identify the patient, and verification of hospitalization and dates of admission and discharge, is declared to be nonconfidential information. In cases arising from accident or violence, news media may be furnished information as to the general nature of the injury and the general condition of the patient, as "good," "fair," "poor," "critical" or like descriptive terms. Such nonconfidential information may be released at the discretion of the person in charge of such records without written authorization of the patient, for good cause shown. All other information contained in hospital records is declared to be confidential and may not be disclosed except under subpoena, in court, or by other process of law, except as provided in sections 2-269 through 2-271.

(Admin. Code 1967, § A5.53)

Cross reference

Hospitals and similar institutions, ch. 36.