34-12-15. Inmate records and statistics required of institutions--Copy to patient and certain other persons on request--Reproduction cost--No liability for compliance--Section not applicable to chemical dependency treatment facilities.
All superintendents, or managers, or other persons in charge of hospitals, lying-in, or other institutions, public or private, to which persons resort for treatment of disease, confinement, or are committed by process of law, shall make and keep a record of all the personal and statistical particulars relative to the inmates, such record to be made at the time of their admittance and in such form of certificate as directed by the secretary of health. In case of persons admitted or committed for treatment of disease, the physician in charge shall specify for entry in such record the nature of the disease and where in the physician's opinion it was contracted. The personal particulars and information required by this section shall be obtained from the individual, if it is practicable to do so, and if not practicable, shall be obtained in as complete a manner as possible from relatives, friends, or other persons acquainted with the facts. Such record shall be open at all times to the inspection of the secretary of health or an accredited agent of the secretary.
A health care facility shall provide copies of all medical records, reports, and X rays pertinent to the health of the patient, if available, to a discharged patient or the patient's designee upon receipt by the health care facility of a written request or a legible copy of a written request signed by the patient. The health care facility may require before delivery that the patient pay the actual reproduction and mailing expense.
If a personal representative of a deceased patient has not been appointed, the following surviving family members, in the priority stated, have the right to copies of the patient's medical record to the same extent as the patient would have the right to copies of the medical record while alive:
(1)The spouse, if not legally separated at the time of the patient's death;
(2)An adult child;
(3)A parent;
(4)An adult sibling;
(5)A grandparent or an adult grandchild;
(6)An adult aunt or uncle, or an adult niece or nephew.
A health care facility, complying in good faith with the provisions of this section, may not be held liable for any injury or damage proximately resulting from compliance with this section. This section does not apply to chemical dependency treatment facilities.
Source: SDC 1939, §27.0205; SL 1979, ch 236, §1; SL 1981, ch 258, §§1, 2; SL 1989, ch 288; SL 1999, ch 171, §1.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Title 34 - Public Health and Safety
Chapter 12 - Regulation Of Hospitals And Related Institutions
Section 34-12-1.1 - Definition of terms.
Section 34-12-2 - License required to operate institution.
Section 34-12-2.1 - Unlicensed institutions ineligible for state or federal funds.
Section 34-12-3 - Licensed child welfare agencies exempt from chapter.
Section 34-12-4 - Lodging establishments exempt from chapter.
Section 34-12-6 - Amount of license fee--Disposition.
Section 34-12-7 - Department of Health authorized to issue licenses--Promulgation of rules.
Section 34-12-8 - Provisional licenses--Circumstances under which issued.
Section 34-12-9 - License not transferable.
Section 34-12-11.2 - Visitation of patients and residents--Required post.
Section 34-12-12 - Lodging and food service laws not applicable to licensees.
Section 34-12-13 - Rules to protect patients' health and safety.
Section 34-12-14 - Application of regulations and standards to Christian Science institution.
Section 34-12-15.1 - Handling of residents' funds by nursing homes--Definition of terms.
Section 34-12-15.2 - Residents' funds kept separate--Free from facility's liabilities.
Section 34-12-15.6 - Records required on residents' funds--Form--Receipts kept.
Section 34-12-15.7 - Records of residents' funds available for audit.
Section 34-12-15.8 - Noncompliance as ground for revocation of administrator's license.
Section 34-12-15.9 - Surrender of funds on discharge of resident--Time allowed.
Section 34-12-15.10 - Escheat of unclaimed funds of deceased resident--Notice and transfer to state.
Section 34-12-17 - Information received by department confidential--Disclosure.
Section 34-12-18 - Unlicensed operation as misdemeanor.
Section 34-12-19 - Grounds for suspension or revocation of license.
Section 34-12-20 - Procedure for suspension or revocation of license.
Section 34-12-21 - New license issued after suspension or revocation.
Section 34-12-22 - Appeal from department.
Section 34-12-29 - Promulgation of rules regarding nurse aide registration.
Section 34-12-34 - Failure to register--Notice--Closure.
Section 34-12-35.4 - Number of beds in nursing facility.
Section 34-12-35.5 - Access critical nursing facilities.
Section 34-12-35.6 - Redistribution of existing nursing facility beds.
Section 34-12-35.9 - Authorization to increase number of nursing facility beds.
Section 34-12-35.10 - Nursing facility beds at Michael J. Fitzmaurice Veterans Home.
Section 34-12-35.12 - Regional nursing facility--Designation.
Section 34-12-39.2 - New nursing facilities--Limitations--Requirements.
Section 34-12-39.4 - New nursing facility as part of existing facility.
Section 34-12-39.5 - Authorization to construct new nursing facility.
Section 34-12-39.6 - Closure of existing nursing facility--Availability of authorized beds.
Section 34-12-39.7 - Authorization to construct new nursing facility in Moody County.
Section 34-12-39.8 - Authorization to construct new nursing facility in Lyman County.
Section 34-12-40 - Continuing care agreement defined.
Section 34-12-41 - Entrance fee defined.
Section 34-12-42 - Continuing care retirement community defined.
Section 34-12-43 - Agreements--Exemptions--Insurance.
Section 34-12-44 - Information to be provided.
Section 34-12-45 - Escrow of fees.
Section 34-12-46 - Construction--Fees.
Section 34-12-47 - Notification of escrow accounts.
Section 34-12-52 - Definition of terms related to trauma care system.
Section 34-12-53 - Trauma care system and statewide trauma registry.
Section 34-12-54 - Promulgation of rules regarding trauma care system.
Section 34-12-56 - Nursing facility construction on American Indian reservations.
Section 34-12-56.2 - Nursing facility on Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.
Section 34-12-57 - Services of licensed birth center.
Section 34-12-58 - Location of birth center.
Section 34-12-59 - License required to operate birth center.
Section 34-12-60 - Facilities exempt from birth center license requirements.
Section 34-12-61 - Application for birth center license.
Section 34-12-62 - Promulgation of rules for birth centers.
Section 34-12-63 - Risk assessment system for birth centers.
Section 34-12-64 - Certain medical foster homes for veterans exempt from chapter.
Section 34-12-66 - Mammogram reports required to include information on breast density.
Section 34-12-67 - Assisted living facility--Resident--Visitation rights.
Section 34-12-68 - Visitation policies and procedures--Limitations and restrictions--Notice--Review.
Section 34-12-69 - Guidance documents--Visitation--Posting requirement.