§ 9-19-29. Admissibility of records of deceased physicians, dentists and professional engineers.
(a) In all actions for the recovery of benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act, chapters 29 — 38 of title 28, for personal injury or death, and in all actions for the recovery of damages for personal injury or death in any civil proceeding, if a physician, dentist, or professional engineer has died prior to the time of the trial of the action, the written records, reports, or bills of the physician or dentist concerning the patient who suffered the injury or death, and the reports and scale drawings of the professional engineer concerning matter relevant to the circumstances under which the injury or death was sustained, shall be admissible in evidence.
(b) In all actions for the recovery of benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act for personal injury or death and in all actions for the recovery of damages for personal injury or death in any civil proceeding, if a physician, dentist, or professional engineer has moved out of this state prior to trial or cannot be located within this state after a reasonable search, and whose whereabouts and address are unknown, any written records, reports, or bills of the physician or dentist concerning the patient who suffered the injury or death, and the reports and scale drawings of the professional engineer concerning matter relevant to the circumstances under which the injury or death was sustained, shall be admissible in evidence and the patient may testify as to the medical or dental services provided and the treatment received, and another physician or dentist may provide evidence as to the medical or dental services or treatment as if the physician or dentist had been the one who rendered the services or treatment, including evidence as to the fair and reasonable charge for the services, the necessity of the services or treatment and any other matter.
History of Section.P.L. 1969, ch. 229, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 453, § 1.
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 - Repealed.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.