State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Connecticut > Title17a > Chap319i > Sec17a-487

      Sec. 17a-487. Serious injury or unexpected death of persons served by Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Department of Children and Families. (a) If a serious injury or unexpected death occurs involving a person being served by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Children and Families, each agency may share, in accordance with applicable federal privacy laws, information and records in its custody relating to the care and treatment of said person with the other agency without the consent of said person, provided the information shared is necessary to allow each agency to assist the other in investigating such occurrence and identifying risk factors that might prevent the occurrence of a similar serious injury or unexpected death.

      (b) The finding of any investigation of a serious injury or unexpected death conducted by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Children and Families shall not be subject to disclosure pursuant to section 1-210, nor shall such findings be subject to discovery or introduction into evidence in any civil action arising out of such serious injury or death. Nothing in this section shall be construed as restricting disclosure of confidential communications or records upon which such finding is based where such disclosure is otherwise required by law. No person who participated in an investigation conducted pursuant to this section shall be permitted or required to testify in any civil action as to the content of such action; except that the provisions of this section shall not preclude (1) in any civil action (A) the use of any writing that was created independently of such action; (B) the testimony of any person concerning the facts that formed the basis for the institution of such action; or (C) disclosure of the fact that staff privileges were terminated or restricted, including the specific restriction imposed, if any, or (2) in any health care provider proceedings concerning the termination or restriction of staff privileges, the use of data discussed or developed during an investigation.

      (P.A. 05-92, S. 1.)