[§324-43]  Use of collected information. (a)  The information collected under this part shall be used by the departmentof health or researchers only for the purpose of advancing medical and publichealth research, medical education, or education of the public in the interestof reducing morbidity or mortality, and only as approved by an institutionalreview board.

(b)  The identity of, or any information whichalone or in combination with other reasonably available information that may beused to identify, any person whose condition or treatment has been studiedunder this part shall be confidential.

(c)  If the [birth defects program] orresearchers intend to collect additional information directly from a patient orpatient's relative for research studies approved by an institutional reviewboard, the researcher shall first obtain approval for the request from thepatient's attending physician.  The use of the additional information obtainedby researchers shall be governed by subsection (a). [L 2002, c 252, pt of §2]