The information on this page was last updated by Horty, Springer & Mattern on December 3, 2024.
UTAH
PEER REVIEW
§ 26B-1-229. Authority to provide data on treatment and condition of persons to designated agencies–Immunity from liability–Information considered privileged communication–Information held in confidence–Penalties for violation
(1) As used in this section:
(a) “Health care facility” means the same as that term is defined in
Section 26B-2-201.
(b) “Health care provider” means the same as that term is defined in
Section 78B-3-403.
(2) Any person, health facility, or other organization may, without incurring liability, provide the following information to the persons and entities described in Subsection (3):
(a) information as determined by the state registrar of vital records appointed under Chapter 8, Part 1, Vital Statistics;
(f) familial information; and
(g) other data relating to the condition and treatment of any person.
(3) The information described in Subsection (2) may be provided to:
(a) the department and local health departments;
(b) the Division of Integrated Healthcare within the department;
(c) scientific and health care research organizations affiliated with institutions of higher education;
(d) the Utah Medical Association or any of its allied medical societies;
(e) peer review committees;
(f) professional review organizations;
(g) professional societies and associations; and
(h) any health facility’s in-house staff committee for the uses described in Subsection (4).
(4) The information described in Subsection (2) may be provided for the following purposes:
(a) study and advancing medical research, with the purpose of reducing the incidence of disease, morbidity, or mortality; or
(b) the evaluation and improvement of hospital and health care rendered by hospitals, health facilities, or health care providers.
(5) Any person may, without incurring liability, provide information, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other information relating to the ethical conduct of any health care provider to peer review committees, professional societies and associations, or any in-hospital staff committee to be used for purposes of intraprofessional society or association discipline.
(6) No liability may arise against any person or organization as a result of:
(a) providing information or material authorized in this section;
(b) releasing or publishing findings and conclusions of groups referred to in this section to advance health research and health education; or
(c) releasing or publishing a summary of these studies in accordance with this section.
(7)(a) The information described in Subsection (2) that is provided to the entities described in Subsection (3):
(i) shall be used and disclosed by the entities described in Subsection (3) in accordance with this section; and
(ii) is not subject to Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act.
(b) The Office of Substance Use and Mental Health, scientific and health care research organizations affiliated with institutions of higher education, the Utah Medical Association or any of the Utah Medical Association’s allied medical societies, peer review committees, professional review organizations, professional societies and associations, or any health facility’s in-house staff committee may only use or publish the information or material received or gathered under this section for the purpose of study and advancing medical research or medical education in the interest of reducing the incidence of disease, morbidity, or mortality, except that a summary of studies conducted in accordance with this section may be released by those groups for general publication.
(8) All information, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other data furnished by reason of this section, and any findings or conclusions resulting from those studies are privileged communications and are not subject to discovery, use, or receipt in evidence in any legal proceeding of any kind or character.
(9)(a) All information described in Subsection (2) that is provided to a person or organization described in Subsection (3) shall be held in strict confidence by that person or organization, and any use, release, or publication resulting therefrom shall be made only for the purposes described in Subsections (4) and (7) and shall preclude identification of any individual or individuals studied.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (9)(a), the department’s use and disclosure of information is not governed by this section.
(10)(a) Any use, release, or publication, negligent or otherwise, contrary to the provisions of this section is a class B misdemeanor.
(b) Subsection (10)(a) does not relieve the person or organization responsible for such use, release, or publication from civil liability.
§58-13-4. Liability immunity for health care providers on committees– Evaluating and approving medical care.
(1) As used in this section, “health care provider” has the same meaning as in Section 78B-3-403*.
(2) Health care providers serving in the following capacities and the organizations or entities sponsoring these activities are immune from liability with respect to deliberations, decisions, or determinations made or information furnished in good faith and without malice:
(a) serving on committees:
(i) established to determine if hospitals and long-term care facilities are being used properly;
(ii) established to evaluate and improve the quality of health care or determine whether provided health care was necessary, appropriate, properly performed, or provided at a reasonable cost;
(iii) functioning under Pub. L. No. 89-97 or as professional standards review organizations under Pub. L. No. 92-603;
(iv) that are ethical standards review committees; or
(v) that are similar to committees listed in this Subsection (2) and that are established by any hospital, professional association, the Utah Medical Association, or one of its component medical societies to evaluate or review the diagnosis or treatment of, or the performance of health or hospital services to, patients within this state;
(b) members of licensing boards established under Title 58, Occupations and Professions, to license and regulate health care providers; and
(c) health care providers or other persons furnishing information to those committees, as required by law, voluntarily, or upon official request.
(3) This section does not relieve any health care provider from liability incurred in providing professional care and treatment to any patient.
(4) Health care providers serving on committees or providing information described in this section are presumed to have acted in good faith and without malice, absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.
§78B-3-419. Evidence of proceedings not admissible in subsequent action–Panelist may not be compelled to testify–Immunity of panelist from civil liability–Information regarding professional conduct
(1) Evidence of the proceedings conducted by the medical review panel and its results, opinions, findings, and determinations are not admissible as evidence in any civil action or arbitration proceeding subsequently brought by the claimant against any respondent and are not reportable to any health care facility or health care insurance carrier as a part of any credentialing process.
(2) No panelist may be compelled to testify in a civil action subsequently filed with regard to the subject matter of the panel’s review. A panelist has immunity from civil liability arising from participation as a panelist and for all communications, findings, opinions, and conclusions made in the course and scope of duties prescribed by this section.
(3) Nothing in this chapter may be interpreted to prohibit the division from considering any information contained in a statutory notice of intent to commence action, request for prelitigation panel review, or written findings of a panel with respect to the division’s determining whether a licensee engaged in unprofessional or unlawful conduct.
*§78B-3-403. Definitions
As used in this part:
(13) “Health care provider” includes any person, partnership, association, corporation, or other facility or institution who causes to be rendered or who renders health care or professional services as a hospital, health care facility, physician, physician assistant, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nurse-midwife, licensed direct-entry midwife, dentist, dental hygienist, optometrist, clinical laboratory technologist, pharmacist, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, podiatric physician, psychologist, chiropractic physician, naturopathic physician, osteopathic physician, osteopathic physician and surgeon, audiologist, speech-language pathologist, clinical social worker, certified social worker, social service worker, marriage and family counselor, practitioner of obstetrics, licensed athletic trainer, or others rendering similar care and services relating to or arising out of the health needs of persons or groups of persons and officers, employees, or agents of any of the above acting in the course and scope of their employment.* * *
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§ 26B-2-201. Definitions
(13)(a) “Health care facility” means general acute hospitals, specialty hospitals, home health agencies, hospices, nursing care facilities, residential-assisted living facilities, birthing centers, ambulatory surgical facilities, small health care facilities, abortion clinics, facilities owned or operated by health maintenance organizations, end stage renal disease facilities, and any other health care facility which the committee designates by rule.
(b) “Health care facility” does not include the offices of private physicians or dentists, whether for individual or group practice, except that it does include an abortion clinic.
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