§ 1883. Disclosure of protected health information required

(a) When a law enforcement officer responds to an alleged crime committed by a patient at a hospital:

(1) an authorized representative of the hospital shall disclose to the law enforcement officer the following information before the officer removes the patient from the hospital:

(A) information that is sufficient to confirm whether the patient is stabilized, has been evaluated, or is awaiting inpatient care; and

(B) any other information that will be necessary for purposes of safely taking custody of the patient; and

(2) the law enforcement officer shall not remove the patient from the hospital if an authorized representative of the hospital informs the officer that the patient is not stabilized, has not yet been evaluated, or is awaiting inpatient care.

(b) When a law enforcement officer responds to an alleged crime committed by a patient at a scene where emergency medical treatment was or is being provided:

(1) a member of the emergency medical personnel who provided the treatment shall disclose to the law enforcement officer the following information before the officer removes the patient from the emergency medical treatment scene:

(A) information that is sufficient to confirm whether the patient is stabilized, has been evaluated, or is awaiting transport for health care; and

(B) any other information that will be necessary for purposes of safely taking custody of the patient; and

(2) the law enforcement officer shall not remove the patient from the emergency medical treatment scene if a member of the emergency medical personnel who provided the treatment informs the officer that the patient is not stabilized, has not yet been evaluated, or is awaiting transport for health care.

(c) As used in this section:

(1) “Emergency medical personnel” has the same meaning as in 24 V.S.A. § 2651(6).

(2) “Emergency medical treatment” has the same meaning as in 24 V.S.A. § 2651(9).

(3) “Hospital” has the same meaning as in subdivision 1902(1) of this title.

(4) “Stabilized” means that no material deterioration of the patient’s medical condition is likely, within reasonable medical probability, to result from or occur during the transport of the patient from the hospital or the emergency medical treatment scene. (Added 2023, No. 24, § 3, eff. May 30, 2023.)