§ 9-19-12. Statements and releases by patients in personal injury cases.
Except as provided below, no settlement or general release or statement in writing signed by any person confined in a hospital or sanitarium as a patient with reference to any personal injuries for which the person is confined in the hospital or sanitarium shall be admissible in evidence, used or referred to in any manner, at the trial of any action to recover damages for personal injuries or consequential damages, so called, resulting therefrom, which statement, settlement, or general release was obtained within fifteen (15) days after injuries were sustained, and the settlement or release shall be null and void unless at least five (5) days prior to the obtaining or procuring of the general release or statement the injured party had signified in writing his or her willingness that the general release or statement be given. This section shall not apply to statements or releases obtained by police officers or inspectors of motor vehicles in the performance of their duty, from members of the family of the person, or by or on behalf of his or her attorney.
History of Section.P.L. 1956, ch. 3712, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 9-19-12.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 9 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Procedure Generally
Section 9-19-1, 9-19-2. - Repealed.
Section 9-19-3. - Judicial notice of law of other states.
Section 9-19-4. - Information as to foreign law.
Section 9-19-5. - Determination made by court — Review.
Section 9-19-6. - Evidence of foreign law.
Section 9-19-7. - Law of foreign countries.
Section 9-19-8. - Uniformity of construction.
Section 9-19-10. - Entries and memoranda of decedent introduced for successor in title to decedent.
Section 9-19-12. - Statements and releases by patients in personal injury cases.
Section 9-19-12.1. - Releases for personal injuries.
Section 9-19-13, 9-19-14. - Repealed.
Section 9-19-15. - Stenographic transcripts of testimony in superior court.
Section 9-19-16 - — 9-19-18. Repealed.
Section 9-19-19. - Finding of presumed death under federal Missing Persons Act.
Section 9-19-20. - Other documents under Missing Persons Act.
Section 9-19-21. - Prima facie validity of federal findings and certified copies.
Section 9-19-22. - Severability.
Section 9-19-23, 9-19-24. - Repealed.
Section 9-19-25. - Illegally seized evidence inadmissible.
Section 9-19-26. - Testimony in divorce, separation, and annulment proceedings.
Section 9-19-27.1. - Repealed.
Section 9-19-28. - Evidence of damage to property.
Section 9-19-32. - Informed consent a preliminary question.
Section 9-19-33. - Res ipsa loquitur in medical malpractice actions.
Section 9-19-34.1. - Collateral source rule in medical malpractice actions.
Section 9-19-35. - Failure to bill inadmissible in medical malpractice cases.
Section 9-19-36. - Advance payments inadmissible in medical malpractice cases.
Section 9-19-38. - Proof of life or work life expectancy.
Section 9-19-39. - Use of photostatic copies.
Section 9-19-40. - Records of the division of motor vehicles.
Section 9-19-41. - Expert witnesses in malpractice cases.
Section 9-19-42. - The Rhode Island rules of evidence.
Section 9-19-43. - Report of laboratory test.
Section 9-19-44. - Mediator confidentiality in mediation proceedings.