(a) Accreditation, quality assurance and similar materials as used in this section shall include written reports, records, correspondence, and materials concerning the accreditation or quality assurance or similar function of any hospital, clinic, or medical staff. The confidentiality established by this section shall apply to materials prepared by an employee, advisor, or consultant of a hospital, clinic, or medical staff and to materials prepared by an employee, advisor or consultant of an accrediting, quality assurance or similar agency or similar body and to any individual who is an employee, advisor or consultant of a hospital, clinic, medical staff or accrediting, quality assurance or similar agency or body.
(b) All accreditation, quality assurance credentialling and similar materials shall be held in confidence and shall not be subject to discovery or introduction in evidence in any civil action against a health care professional or institution arising out of matters which are the subject of evaluation and review for accreditation, quality assurance and similar functions, purposes, or activities. No person involved in preparation, evaluation or review of accreditation, quality assurance or similar materials shall be permitted or required to testify in any civil action as to any evidence or other matters produced or presented during the course of preparation, evaluation, or review of such materials or as to any finding, recommendation, evaluation, opinion, or other action of such accreditation, quality assurance or similar function or other person involved therein. Information, documents, or records otherwise available from original sources are not to be construed as being unavailable for discovery or for use in any civil action merely because they were presented or used in preparation of accreditation, quality assurance or similar materials nor should any person involved in preparation, evaluation, or review of such materials be prevented from testifying as to matters within his knowledge, but the witness testifying should not be asked about any opinions or data given by him in preparation, evaluation, or review of accreditation, quality assurance or similar materials.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 22 - Health, Mental Health, and Environmental Control.
Title 1 - Health and Environmental Control Generally.
Chapter 21 - Hospitals and Other Health Care Facilities Generally.
Article 1 - General Provisions.
Section 22-21-1 - Establishment of Hospitals by Local Authorities.
Section 22-21-2 - Appropriations for Indigent Persons in Hospitals.
Section 22-21-3 - Scholarships for Professional and Technical Personnel at Public Hospitals.
Section 22-21-4 - Annual Audit of Books and Records of Publicly Owned Medical Institutions.
Section 22-21-5 - Incorporation of Public Bodies Created Under Chapter; Powers of Same.
Section 22-21-8 - Confidentiality of Accreditation, Quality Assurance Credentialling Materials, Etc.
Section 22-21-9 - Name Tags, etc., Required for Nurses.
Section 22-21-11 - Mandatory Reporting of Any Injury Resulting From Gunshot; Liability.