A provider of health care or a health care service plan may disclose medical information in the following circumstances: 1) to other healthcare providers to facilitate diagnosis and treatment 2) to find financially liable party and obtain payment 3) to administrative subcontractors 4) quality control organizations (peer review boards, etc.) 5) accrediting agencies 6) coroners 7) \bona fide research purposes\" 8) employer
Every person confined in the state prison who commits a battery by intentionally placing or throwing human excrement or other bodily fluids or bodily substances on the person of a peace officer or other employee of the state prison may be ordered by the chief medical officer to receive an immediate voluntary or involuntary examination or test for hepatitis or tuberculosis and subsequent follow-up examinations if deemed necessary to the health of the peace officer or employee.
(e) Terms of imprisonment are subject to recall and reconsideration if any physician employed by the department determines, and subsequently notifies the chief medical officer, that a prisoner has six months or less to live or is permanently medically incapacitated. If the chief medical officer concurs with the prognosis, he or she shall notify the warden of the re-sentencing proceedings. The warden shall then provide the prisoner and his or her family member, agent, or emergency contact updated information throughout the recall and re-sentencing procedures.
In the event of the death of hospitalized patient by any cause, the State Department of Mental Health, the physician in charge of the patient, or person in charge of the facility, shall release information acquired while providing services to the patient under Division 5, 6, or 7 to the coroner unless such disclosure is prohibited under this section. Information about the personal life of the patient that is unrelated to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient's physical condition shall not be released. Any information released to the coroner shall not become part of the public record.
When death is result of doctor's gross negligence/incompetence, coroner shall file confidential report to medical board. No liability in civil action from complying with this statute.
No copy, reproduction, or facsimile shall be made of any photograph, negative, or print, including instant photographs and video tapes, of the body of a deceased person, taken by or for the coroner at the scene of death or in the course of a post mortem examination or autopsy, except for criminal proceeding or by order of court.
A provider of health care, a health care service plan, or a contractor shall disclose medical information if the disclosure is compelled by any of the following: Court order; Order from a board, commission, or agency; Subpoena from a party before a court or agency; Arbitrator or panel; Search Warrant; Patient or Patient's representative; or, Coroner conducting an investigation
(1) It shall be the duty of the coroner to inquire into and determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of all violent, sudden, unattended, unusual or suspicious deaths. In cases where the coroner conducts an inquiry, the coroner or a deputy shall personally sign the certificate of death. If the death occurred in a state hospital, the coroner shall forward a copy of his or her report to the state agency responsible for the state hospital.
When a coroner reasonably suspects criminal conduct as a cause of death, the coroner shall notify law enforcement of the name of the deceased person and any medical information of the decedent that is directly related to the death. The report shall not include any information contained in the decedent's medical records regarding any other person unless that information is relevant and directly related to the decedent's death.
Coroners shall maintain registries of the names of the deceased, and information including detailed medical reports upon which decision as to cause of death has been based.
