Nebraska Statutes 44-2846. Proceedings before panel; confidential; exception; waiver of privileges; when; witnesses; rights
(1) Except for the introduction into evidence of the report of the panel, all proceedings before the medical review panel, all actions taken by any party or his counsel in preparation for such proceedings, and the submission of any matter to the medical review panel shall be handled on a confidential basis. Such hearing may not be conducted as a public hearing and the proceedings before the panel shall not be matters of public record.
Terms Used In Nebraska Statutes 44-2846
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Hospital: shall mean a public or private institution licensed pursuant to the Health Care Facility Licensure Act. See Nebraska Statutes 44-2806
- Patient: shall mean a natural person who receives or should have received health care from a licensed health care provider under a contract, express or implied. See Nebraska Statutes 44-2805
- Physician: shall mean a person with an unlimited license to practice medicine in this state pursuant to the Medicine and Surgery Practice Act or a person with a license to practice osteopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine and surgery in this state pursuant to sections Nebraska Statutes 44-2804
- Representative: shall mean the spouse, parent, guardian, adult child, executor, administrator, trustee, attorney, or other legal agent of the patient. See Nebraska Statutes 44-2808
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
(2) Initiation of proceedings before a medical review panel by a patient or his representative shall constitute waiver of any privilege or rights conferred by Chapter 27, article 5, as to any hospital records or testimony or records of any physician or surgeon who is attending or has attended such patient for physical or mental conditions or injuries or conditions involved in such proceeding to the same extent and with like effect as provided in Chapter 27, article 5. Any witness providing information or facts or opinions to the medical review panel shall be entitled to the immunities and protection provided to witnesses generally in court proceedings.