(a) Each hospital, outpatient surgical facility and outpatient clinic shall report or cause a report to be made to the local police department or the state police of each person treated for a bullet wound, a gunshot wound or any injury arising from the discharge of a firearm or a stab wound that is a serious physical injury likely caused by a knife or other sharp or pointed instrument. Such report shall be made as soon as practicable after the treatment is rendered and shall contain the name and address of the injured person, if known, the nature and extent of the injury and the circumstances under which the treatment was rendered.

(b) A report required under subsection (a) of this section shall include:

(1) The name, residence, sex and age of the patient;

(2) The type of wound the patient received; and

(3) The name of each health care provider treating the patient's wound.

(c) An employee of the hospital, outpatient surgical facility or outpatient clinic shall ensure that any bullet or other foreign object or clothing showing damage potentially related to the wound removed from any such patient shall be identified as coming from such patient and kept in a manner that preserves the integrity of the item, until an employee of such entity surrenders the item to the local police department or the state police or until the period for retention of such item expires pursuant to such entity's policy for retention of such item, whichever is earlier.

(d) Any hospital, outpatient surgical facility or outpatient clinic or employee of any such entity who in good faith, and without gross negligence or wilful or wanton misconduct, makes a report pursuant to this section, cooperates during the course of an investigation or proceeding concerning the reported wound, or preserves an item or surrenders such item to the local police department or state police pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, shall be immune from civil or criminal liability or any action for suspension, revocation or surrender of any professional license, registration or certification held by such entity or employee, arising from or related to the report, cooperation with an investigation or proceeding or the preservation or surrender of any such item.

(P.A. 93-269, S. 3, 4; P.A. 16-90, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 93-269 effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 16-90 designated existing provisions re report of person treated for certain wounds or injuries as Subsec. (a) and amended same to add provision re stab wounds and make a technical change, added Subsec. (b) re information to be included in report, added Subsec. (c) re identification and keeping of items related to wound and added Subsec. (d) re immunity.