93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
SB2777

 

Introduced 2/5/2004, by Kirk W. Dillard

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Creates the Loan Repayment Assistance for Physicians Act. Requires that the Department of Public Health establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for physicians who practice in Illinois. Provides that for each year that a qualified applicant practices full-time as a physician, the Department shall, subject to appropriation, award a grant to that person in an amount equal to the amount in educational loans that the person must repay that year. Provides that the total amount in grants that a person may be awarded shall not exceed $25,000. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to award grants to all practicing physicians (instead of only to physicians offering obstetrical medical services in rural areas) for the purpose of reimbursing the costs of obtaining malpractice insurance. Requires the Department to establish reasonable conditions, standards, and duties relating to the grants. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides for an increase in the rates paid to every vendor of goods or services under the Medicaid program so that those rates are equal to the rates paid to such vendors under Medicare. Provides for implementation of the rate increase over a 3-year period. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Limits attorney's fees in individual actions to $1,000,000 including expenses. Changes the standards that the court shall apply to determine if a witness qualifies as an expert witness as follows: (i) requires the court to determine whether the witness is board certified or board eligible in the same medical specialties as the defendant and is familiar with the same medical problems or the type of treatment administered in the case (instead of the same relationship of the medical specialties of the witness to the medical problem and the type of treatment in the case); (ii) requires the court to determine whether the witness has devoted 75% (instead of a substantial portion) of his or her working hours to the practice of medicine, teaching, or university based research in relation to the medical care and type of treatment at issue; and (iii) requires the court to determine whether the witness is licensed by any state or the District of Columbia (instead of just licensed). Amends the Illinois Good Samaritan Act. Provides that the immunity for civil damages provided for services performed without compensation at free medical clinics also applies to physicians and other health care professionals that provide medical treatment, diagnosis, or advice at federally qualified health care centers without fee or compensation. Makes various other changes in other Acts concerning health care. Effective immediately.


LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2777 LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     AN ACT in relation to health care delivery and civil
2 actions, which may be referred to as the Medical Liability
3 Crisis and Access to Care Law of 2004.
 
4     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
5 represented in the General Assembly:
 
6
ARTICLE 1

 
7     Section 1-1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Loan
8 Repayment Assistance for Physicians Act.
 
9     Section 1-5. Definitions. The purpose of this Act is to
10 establish a program in the Department of Public Health to
11 increase the total number of physicians in this State by
12 providing educational loan repayment assistance grants to
13 physicians.
 
14     Section 1-10. Definitions. In this Act, unless the context
15 otherwise requires:
16     "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
17     "Educational loans" means higher education student loans
18 that a person has incurred in attending a registered
19 professional physician education program.
20     "Physician" means a person licensed under the Medical
21 Practice Act of 1987 to practice medicine in all of its
22 branches.
23     "Program" means the educational loan repayment assistance
24 program for physicians established by the Department under this
25 Act.
 
26     Section 1-15. Establishment of program. The Department
27 shall establish an educational loan repayment assistance
28 program for physicians who practice in Illinois. The Department
29 shall administer the program and make all necessary and proper

 

 

SB2777 - 2 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 rules not inconsistent with this Act for the program's
2 effective implementation. The Department may use up to 5% of
3 the appropriation for this program for administration and
4 promotion of physician incentive programs.
 
5     Section 1-20. Application. Beginning July 1, 2004, the
6 Department shall, each year, consider applications for
7 assistance under the program. The form of application and
8 information required to be set forth in the application shall
9 be determined by the Department, and the Department shall
10 require applicants to submit with their applications such
11 supporting documents as the Department deems necessary.
 
12     Section 1-25. Eligibility. To be eligible for assistance
13 under the program, an applicant must meet all of the following
14 qualifications:
15         (1) He or she must be a citizen or permanent resident
16     of the United States.
17         (2) He or she must be a resident of Illinois.
18         (3) He or she must be practicing full-time in Illinois
19     as a physician.
20         (4) He or she must currently be repaying educational
21     loans.
22         (5) He or she must agree to continue to practice
23     full-time in Illinois for 3 years.
 
24     Section 1-30. The award of grants. Under the program, for
25 each year that a qualified applicant practices full-time in
26 Illinois as a physician, the Department shall, subject to
27 appropriation, award a grant to that person in an amount equal
28 to the amount in educational loans that the person must repay
29 that year. However, the total amount in grants that a person
30 may be awarded under the program shall not exceed $25,000. The
31 Department shall require recipients to use the grants to pay
32 off their educational loans.
 

 

 

SB2777 - 3 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     Section 1-35. Penalty. Loan repayment recipients who fail
2 to practice full-time in Illinois for 3 years shall repay the
3 Department a sum equal to 3 times the amount received under the
4 program.
 
5
ARTICLE 5

 
6     Section 5-1. To comply with House and Senate rules, the
7 matter that is added to the law by this Public Act is
8 underscored and the matter that is deleted from the law is
9 stricken. The amendatory changes made by Public Act 89-7, which
10 has been declared unconstitutional by the Illinois Supreme
11 Court, are not included in the text of the provisions that are
12 amended by this Public Act.
 
13     Section 5-2. Legislative findings. The General Assembly
14 finds that:
15         1. Illinois is in the midst of a medical malpractice
16     insurance crisis of unprecedented magnitude.
17         2. Illinois is among the states with the highest
18     medical malpractice insurance premiums in the nation.
19         3. Medical Malpractice insurance in Illinois is
20     unavailable or unaffordable for many hospitals and
21     physicians.
22         4. The high and increasing cost of medical malpractice
23     insurance in Illinois is causing health care providers to
24     eliminate or reduce the provision of medical care
25     throughout the State.
26         5. The crisis is discouraging medical students from
27     choosing Illinois as the place they will receive their
28     medical education and practice medicine.
29         6. The increase in medical malpractice liability
30     insurance rates is forcing physicians to practice medicine
31     without professional liability insurance, to leave
32     Illinois, to not perform high-risk procedures, or to retire
33     early from the practice of medicine.

 

 

SB2777 - 4 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1         7. The high and increasing cost of medical malpractice
2     insurance is due in large part to the inefficiency and
3     unpredictability of adjudicating claims through the civil
4     justice system.
5         8. Much of this inefficiency stems from the time and
6     resources needlessly spent on valuing uncertain and
7     unpredictable claims of medical negligence.
8         9. The public would benefit by making medical liability
9     coverage for hospitals and physicians more affordable,
10     which would make health care more available.
 
11     Section 5-5. The Illinois Civil Administrative Code is
12 amended by changing Section 2310-220 as follows:
 
13     (20 ILCS 2310/2310-220)  (was 20 ILCS 2310/55.73)
14     Sec. 2310-220. Findings; medical rural obstetrical care.
15 The General Assembly finds that substantial areas of rural
16 Illinois lack adequate access to medical obstetrical care. The
17 primary cause of this problem is the absence of qualified
18 practitioners who are willing to offer medical obstetrical
19 services. A significant barrier to recruiting and retaining
20 those practitioners is the high cost of professional liability
21 insurance for practitioners offering medical obstetrical care.
22     Therefore, the Department, from funds appropriated for
23 that purpose, shall award grants to physicians licensed to
24 practice medicine in all its branches practicing obstetrics in
25 Illinois rural designated shortage areas, as defined in Section
26 3.04 of the Family Practice Residency Act, for the purpose of
27 reimbursing those physicians for the costs of obtaining
28 malpractice insurance relating to medical obstetrical
29 services. The Department shall establish reasonable
30 conditions, standards, and duties relating to the application
31 for and receipt of the grants.
32 (Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)
 
33     Section 5-10. The Illinois Insurance Code is changed by

 

 

SB2777 - 5 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 adding Section 155.18a as follows:
 
2     (215 ILCS 5/155.18a new)
3     Sec. 155.18a. Professional Liability Insurance Resource
4 Center.
5     (a) The Director of Insurance shall establish a
6 Professional Liability Insurance Resource Center on the World
7 Wide Web containing the following information:
8         (1) Names, address, and telephone numbers of all
9     licensed companies providing professional liability
10     insurance for health care professionals and health care
11     providers including but not limited to hospitals, nursing
12     homes, physicians, and dentists. Computer links to company
13     websites shall be included, if available.
14         (2) Names, addresses and telephone numbers of all
15     licensed brokers who provide access to professional
16     liability insurance for health care professionals and
17     health care providers including but not limited to
18     hospitals, nursing homes, physicians, and dentists.
19     Computer links to company websites shall be included, if
20     available.
21     (b) The Department of Insurance shall conduct and publish
22     an annual study of the impact of this amendatory Act of the
23     93rd General Assembly by county on the following:
24         (1) The number of medical malpractice claims filed and
25     amounts recovered per claim.
26         (2) The amounts of economic and non-economic damages
27     awarded per case.
28         (3) The amount of plaintiff and defense attorney fees
29     paid per case.
30         (4) The impact of the provisions of this amendatory Act
31     of the 93rd General Assembly on the cost and availability
32     of healing art malpractice coverage for hospitals and
33     physicians.
34         (5) Every 2 years the Director of Insurance shall make
35     recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House,

 

 

SB2777 - 6 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     and the President of the Senate on changes in the law
2     necessary to maintain affordable and accessible
3     professional liability insurance.
 
4     Section 5-15. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
5 adding Section 5-5.25 as follows:
 
6     (305 ILCS 5/5-5.25 new)
7     Sec. 5-5.25. Rate increase to Medicare rate level.
8 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the
9 Department of Public Aid shall increase the rates paid to every
10 vendor of goods or services provided to recipients of medical
11 assistance under this Article so that the rate paid under this
12 Article for each such item or service is equal to the rate paid
13 to a vendor of such goods or services under the Medicare
14 program. The Department shall implement this rate increase over
15 a period of 3 years so that one-third of the increase is
16 applied for State fiscal year 2005, 50% of the remaining
17 balance is applied for State fiscal year 2006, and the entire
18 amount of the remaining balance is applied for State fiscal
19 year 2007. Thereafter, the rates paid under this Article shall
20 equal the rates paid under the Medicare program.
 
21     Section 5-20. The Health Care Arbitration Act is amended by
22 changing Sections 8 and 9 as follows:
 
23     (710 ILCS 15/8)  (from Ch. 10, par. 208)
24     Sec. 8. Conditions. Every health care arbitration
25 agreement shall be subject to the following conditions:
26     (a) The agreement is not a condition to the rendering of
27 health care services by any party and the agreement has been
28 executed by the recipient of health care services at the
29 inception of or during the term of provision of services for a
30 specific cause by either a health care provider or a hospital;
31 and
32     (b) The agreement is a separate instrument complete in

 

 

SB2777 - 7 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 itself and not a part of any other contract or instrument; and
2     (c) The agreement may not limit, impair, or waive any
3 substantive rights or defenses of any party, including the
4 statute of limitations; and
5     (d) The agreement shall not limit, impair, or waive the
6 procedural rights to be heard, to present material evidence, to
7 cross-examine witnesses, and to be represented by an attorney,
8 or other procedural rights of due process of any party.
9     (e) As a part of the discharge planning process the patient
10 or, if appropriate, members of his family must be given a copy
11 of the health care arbitration agreement previously executed by
12 or for the patient and shall re-affirm it. Failure to comply
13 with this provision during the discharge planning process shall
14 void the health care arbitration agreement.
15 (Source: P.A. 80-1012.)
 
16     (710 ILCS 15/9)  (from Ch. 10, par. 209)
17     Sec. 9. Mandatory Provisions.
18     (a) Every health care arbitration agreement shall be
19 clearly captioned "Health Care Arbitration Agreement".
20     (b) Every health care arbitration agreement in relation to
21 health care services rendered during hospitalization shall
22 specify the date of commencement of hospitalization. Every
23 health care arbitration agreement in relation to health care
24 services not rendered during hospitalization shall state the
25 specific cause for which the services are provided.
26     (c) Every health care arbitration agreement may be
27 cancelled by any signatory (1) within 60 days of its execution
28 or within 60 days of the date of the patient's discharge from
29 the hospital, or last date of treatment, whichever is later, as
30 to an agreement in relation to health care services rendered
31 during hospitalization, provided, that if executed other than
32 at the time of discharge of the patient from the hospital, the
33 health care arbitration agreement be reaffirmed at the time of
34 the discharge planning process in the same manner as provided
35 for in the execution of the original agreement; or (2) within

 

 

SB2777 - 8 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 60 days of the date of its execution, or the last date of
2 treatment by the health care provider, whichever is later, as
3 to an agreement in relation to health care services not
4 rendered during hospitalization. Provided, that no health care
5 arbitration agreement shall be valid after 10 2 years from the
6 date of its execution. An employee of a hospital or health care
7 provider who is not a signatory to an agreement may cancel such
8 agreement as to himself until 30 days following his
9 notification that he is a party to a dispute or issue on which
10 arbitration has been demanded pursuant to such agreement. If
11 any person executing a health care arbitration agreement dies
12 before the period of cancellation as outlined above, the
13 personal representative of the decedent shall have the right to
14 cancel the health care arbitration agreement within 60 days of
15 the date of his appointment as the legal representative of the
16 decedent's estate. Provided, that if no legal representative is
17 appointed within 6 months of the death of said decedent the
18 next of kin of such decedent shall have the right to cancel the
19 health care arbitration agreement within 8 months from the date
20 of death.
21     (d) Every health care arbitration agreement shall contain
22 immediately above the signature lines, in upper case type in
23 printed letters of at least 3/16 inch height, a caption and
24 paragraphs as follows:
25
"AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE HEALTH CARE
26 NEGLIGENCE CLAIMS
27 NOTICE TO PATIENT
28     YOU CANNOT BE REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS AGREEMENT IN ORDER TO
29     RECEIVE TREATMENT. BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, YOUR RIGHT TO
30     TRIAL BY A JURY OR A JUDGE IN A COURT WILL BE BARRED AS TO
31     ANY DISPUTE RELATING TO INJURIES THAT MAY RESULT FROM
32     NEGLIGENCE DURING YOUR TREATMENT OR CARE, AND WILL BE
33     REPLACED BY AN ARBITRATION PROCEDURE.
34     THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE CANCELLED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF SIGNING
35     OR 60 DAYS AFTER YOUR HOSPITAL DISCHARGE OR 60 DAYS AFTER
36     YOUR LAST HEALTH CARE SERVICE MEDICAL TREATMENT IN RELATION

 

 

SB2777 - 9 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES NOT RENDERED DURING
2     HOSPITALIZATION.
3     THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES THAT ANY CLAIMS WHICH MAY ARISE OUT
4     OF YOUR HEALTH CARE WILL BE SUBMITTED TO A PANEL OF
5     ARBITRATORS, RATHER THAN TO A COURT FOR DETERMINATION. THIS
6     AGREEMENT REQUIRES ALL PARTIES SIGNING IT TO ABIDE BY THE
7     DECISION OF THE ARBITRATION PANEL."
8     (e) an executed copy of the AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE HEALTH
9 CARE CLAIMS and any reaffirmation of that agreement as required
10 by this Act shall be given to the patient during the time of
11 the discharge planning process or at the time of discharge
12 after last date of treatment.
13 (Source: P.A. 91-156, eff. 1-1-00.)
 
14     Section 5-25. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by
15 changing Sections 2-622, 2-1107.1, 2-1109, 2-1702, 2-1704,
16 8-802, 8-1901, 8-2501, and 13-217 and by adding Sections 2-625
17 and 8-2505 as follows:
 
18     (735 ILCS 5/2-622)  (from Ch. 110, par. 2-622)
19     (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89-7,
20 which has been held unconstitutional)
21     Sec. 2-622. Healing art malpractice.
22     (a) In any action, whether in tort, contract or otherwise,
23 in which the plaintiff seeks damages for injuries or death by
24 reason of medical, hospital, or other healing art malpractice,
25 the plaintiff's attorney or the plaintiff, if the plaintiff is
26 proceeding pro se, shall file an affidavit, attached to the
27 original and all copies of the complaint, declaring one of the
28 following:
29         1. That the affiant has consulted and reviewed the
30     facts of the case with a health professional who the
31     affiant reasonably believes: (i) is knowledgeable in the
32     relevant issues involved in the particular action; (ii)
33     practices or has practiced within the last 6 years or
34     teaches or has taught within the last 6 years in the same

 

 

SB2777 - 10 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     area of health care or medicine that is at issue in the
2     particular action; and (iii) meets the minimum
3     requirements set forth in 8-2501; and (iv) is qualified by
4     experience or demonstrated competence in the subject of the
5     case; that the reviewing health professional has
6     determined in a written report, after a review of the
7     medical record and other relevant material involved in the
8     particular action that there is a reasonable and
9     meritorious cause for the filing of such action; and that
10     the affiant has concluded on the basis of the reviewing
11     health professional's review and consultation that there
12     is a reasonable and meritorious cause for filing of such
13     action. If the affidavit is filed as to a defendant who is
14     a physician licensed to treat human ailments without the
15     use of drugs or medicines and without operative surgery, a
16     dentist, a podiatrist, a psychologist, or a naprapath, the
17     written report must be from a health professional licensed
18     in the same profession, with the same class of license, as
19     the defendant. For affidavits filed as to all other
20     defendants, the written report must be from a physician
21     licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. In
22     either event, the affidavit must identify the profession of
23     the reviewing health professional. A copy of the written
24     report, clearly identifying the plaintiff and the reasons
25     for the reviewing health professional's determination that
26     a reasonable and meritorious cause for the filing of the
27     action exists, must be attached to the affidavit, but
28     information which would identify the reviewing health
29     professional may be deleted from the copy so attached. The
30     report shall include the name and address of the reviewing
31     health professional and documentation of compliance with
32     requirements set forth in 8-2501. Any reviewing health
33     professional that provides a frivolous or improper review
34     of a case shall be liable to each of the parties for the
35     reasonable costs and attorneys' fees the parties expended
36     in resolving the case. A review shall be found frivolous if

 

 

SB2777 - 11 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     it is substantially lacking in factual support, is based
2     upon a standard of care or practice that lacks substantial
3     use in the relevant specialty or field of practice, or is
4     made for an improper purpose, such as to harass or cause
5     needless increase in the cost of litigation.
6         2. That the plaintiff has not previously voluntarily
7     dismissed an action based upon the same or substantially
8     the same acts, omissions, or occurrences and that the
9     affiant was unable to obtain a consultation required by
10     paragraph 1 because a statute of limitations would impair
11     the action and the consultation required could not be
12     obtained before the expiration of the statute of
13     limitations. If an affidavit is executed pursuant to this
14     paragraph, the certificate and written report required by
15     paragraph 1 shall be filed within 90 days after the filing
16     of the complaint. No additional 90 day extensions shall be
17     granted. The defendant shall be excused from answering or
18     otherwise pleading until 30 days after being served with a
19     certificate required by paragraph 1.
20         3. That a request has been made by the plaintiff or his
21     attorney for examination and copying of records pursuant to
22     Part 20 of Article VIII of this Code and the party required
23     to comply under those Sections has failed to produce such
24     records within 60 days of the receipt of the request. If an
25     affidavit is executed pursuant to this paragraph, the
26     certificate and written report required by paragraph 1
27     shall be filed within 90 days following receipt of the
28     requested records. All defendants except those whose
29     failure to comply with Part 20 of Article VIII of this Code
30     is the basis for an affidavit under this paragraph shall be
31     excused from answering or otherwise pleading until 30 days
32     after being served with the certificate required by
33     paragraph 1.
34     (b) Where a certificate and written report are required
35 pursuant to this Section a separate certificate and written
36 report shall be filed as to each defendant who has been named

 

 

SB2777 - 12 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 in the complaint and shall be filed as to each defendant named
2 at a later time.
3     (c) Where the plaintiff intends to rely on the doctrine of
4 "res ipsa loquitur", as defined by Section 2-1113 of this Code,
5 the certificate and written report must state that, in the
6 opinion of the reviewing health professional, negligence has
7 occurred in the course of medical treatment. The affiant shall
8 certify upon filing of the complaint that he is relying on the
9 doctrine of "res ipsa loquitur".
10     (d) When the attorney intends to rely on the doctrine of
11 failure to inform of the consequences of the procedure, the
12 attorney shall certify upon the filing of the complaint that
13 the reviewing health professional has, after reviewing the
14 medical record and other relevant materials involved in the
15 particular action, concluded that a reasonable health
16 professional would have informed the patient of the
17 consequences of the procedure.
18     (e) Allegations and denials in the affidavit, made without
19 reasonable cause and found to be untrue, shall subject the
20 party pleading them or his attorney, or both, to the payment of
21 reasonable expenses, actually incurred by the other party by
22 reason of the untrue pleading, together with reasonable
23 attorneys' fees to be summarily taxed by the court upon motion
24 made within 30 days of the judgment or dismissal. In no event
25 shall the award for attorneys' fees and expenses exceed those
26 actually paid by the moving party, including the insurer, if
27 any. In proceedings under this paragraph (e), the moving party
28 shall have the right to depose and examine any and all
29 reviewing health professionals who prepared reports used in
30 conjunction with an affidavit required by this Section.
31     (f) A reviewing health professional who in good faith
32 prepares a report used in conjunction with an affidavit
33 required by this Section shall have civil immunity from
34 liability which otherwise might result from the preparation of
35 such report.
36     (g) The failure to file a certificate required by this

 

 

SB2777 - 13 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 Section shall be grounds for dismissal under Section 2-619.
2     (h) This Section does not apply to or affect any actions
3 pending at the time of its effective date, but applies to cases
4 filed on or after its effective date.
5     (i) This amendatory Act of 1997 does not apply to or affect
6 any actions pending at the time of its effective date, but
7 applies to cases filed on or after its effective date.
8     (j) This amendatory Act of 93rd General Assembly does not
9 apply to or affect any actions pending at the time of its
10 effective date, but applies to cases filed on or after its
11 effective date.
12 (Source: P.A. 86-646; 90-579, eff. 5-1-98.)
 
13     (735 ILCS 5/2-625 new)
14     Sec. 2-625. Health care claims based upon apparent or
15 ostensible agency. In any action against a hospital or hospital
16 affiliate arising out of the provision of health care in which
17 the plaintiff seeks damages for any loss, bodily injury, or
18 death, in a claim based upon apparent or ostensible agency, a
19 party must allege with specific facts and prove the following:
20         (1) that the alleged principal through its own action
21     or conduct created the reasonable inference by the
22     plaintiff that the alleged agent was authorized to act on
23     behalf of the alleged principal;
24         (2) that the plaintiff reasonably relied upon the
25     alleged principal's action or conduct suggesting that the
26     alleged agent was the alleged principal's actual agent; and
27         (3) that a reasonable person would not have sought
28     goods or services from the alleged principal if that person
29     knew that the alleged agent was not the alleged principal's
30     actual agent.
31     A plaintiff basing a claim upon apparent or ostensible
32     agency must prove these elements by a preponderance of the
33     evidence.
 
34     (735 ILCS 5/2-1107.1)  (from Ch. 110, par. 2-1107.1)

 

 

SB2777 - 14 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89-7,
2 which has been held unconstitutional)
3     Sec. 2-1107.1. Jury instruction in tort actions. In all
4 actions on account of bodily injury or death or physical damage
5 to property based on negligence, or product liability based on
6 strict tort liability, the court shall instruct the jury in
7 writing, to the extent that it is true, that any award of
8 compensatory damages will not be taxable under federal or State
9 income tax law and that the defendant shall be found not liable
10 if the jury finds that the contributory fault of the plaintiff
11 is more than 50% of the proximate cause of the injury or damage
12 for which recovery is sought.
13     This amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly applies to
14 causes of action filed on or after its effective date.
15 (Source: P.A. 84-1431.)
 
16     (735 ILCS 5/2-1109)  (from Ch. 110, par. 2-1109)
17     (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89-7,
18 which has been held unconstitutional)
19     Sec. 2-1109. Itemized verdicts.
20     (a) In every case where damages for bodily injury or death
21 to the person are assessed by the jury the verdict shall be
22 itemized so as to reflect the monetary distribution, if any,
23 among economic loss and non-economic loss, if any, and, in
24 healing art medical malpractice cases, further itemized so as
25 to reflect the distribution of economic loss by category, such
26 itemization of economic loss by category to include: (a)
27 amounts intended to compensate for reasonable expenses which
28 have been incurred, or which will be incurred, for necessary
29 medical, surgical, x-ray, dental, or other health or
30 rehabilitative services, drugs, and therapy; (b) amounts
31 intended to compensate for lost wages or loss of earning
32 capacity; and (c) all other economic losses claimed by the
33 plaintiff or granted by the jury. Each category of economic
34 loss shall be further itemized into amounts intended to
35 compensate for losses which have been incurred prior to the

 

 

SB2777 - 15 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 verdict and amounts intended to compensate for future losses
2 which will be incurred in the future.
3     (b) In all actions on account of bodily injury or death
4 based on negligence, including healing art malpractice
5 actions, the following terms have the following meanings:
6         (i) "Economic loss" or "economic damages" means all
7     damages that are tangible, such as damages for past and
8     future medical expenses, loss of income or earnings and
9     other property loss.
10         (ii) "Non-economic loss" or "non-economic damages"
11     means damages that are intangible, including but not
12     limited to damages for pain and suffering, disability,
13     disfigurement, loss of consortium, and loss of society.
14         (iii) "Compensatory damages" or "actual damages" are
15     the sum of economic and non-economic damages.
16     (c) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to create a
17 cause of action.
18     (d) This amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly
19 applies to causes of action filed on or after its effective
20 date.
21 (Source: P.A. 84-7.)
 
22     (735 ILCS 5/2-1702)  (from Ch. 110, par. 2-1702)
23     (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89-7,
24 which has been held unconstitutional)
25     Sec. 2-1702. Economic/Non-Economic Loss. As used in this
26 Part, "economic loss" and "non-economic loss" have the same
27 meanings as in Section 2-1109(b). :
28     (a) "Economic loss" means all pecuniary harm for which
29 damages are recoverable.
30     (b) "Non-economic loss" means loss of consortium and all
31 nonpecuniary harm for which damages are recoverable,
32 including, without limitation, damages for pain and suffering,
33 inconvenience, disfigurement, and physical impairment.
34 (Source: P.A. 84-7.)
 

 

 

SB2777 - 16 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     (735 ILCS 5/2-1704)  (from Ch. 110, par. 2-1704)
2     Sec. 2-1704. Healing art malpractice Medical Malpractice
3 Action. As used in this Code Part, "healing art medical
4 malpractice action" means any action, whether in tort, contract
5 or otherwise, in which the plaintiff seeks damages for injuries
6 or death by reason of medical, hospital, or other healing art
7 malpractice including but not limited to medical, nursing,
8 dental, or podiatric malpractice. The term "healing art" shall
9 not include care and treatment by spiritual means through
10 prayer in accord with the tenets and practices of a recognized
11 church or religious denomination.
12 (Source: P.A. 84-7.)
 
13     (735 ILCS 5/8-802)  (from Ch. 110, par. 8-802)
14     Sec. 8-802. Healthcare practitioner Physician and patient.
15 No physician, or surgeon, psychologist, nurse, mental health
16 worker, therapist, or other healing art practitioner (referred
17 to in this Section as "healthcare practitioner") shall be
18 permitted to disclose any information he or she may have
19 acquired in attending any patient in a professional character,
20 necessary to enable him or her professionally to serve the
21 patient, except only (1) in trials for homicide when the
22 disclosure relates directly to the fact or immediate
23 circumstances of the homicide, (2) in actions, civil or
24 criminal, against the healthcare practitioner physician for
25 malpractice, (3) with the expressed consent of the patient, or
26 in case of his or her death or disability, of his or her
27 personal representative or other person authorized to sue for
28 personal injury or of the beneficiary of an insurance policy on
29 his or her life, health, or physical condition, (4) in all
30 actions brought by or against the patient, his or her personal
31 representative, a beneficiary under a policy of insurance, or
32 the executor or administrator of his or her estate wherein the
33 patient's physical or mental condition is an issue, (4.1) in
34 all actions brought against the patient, his or her personal
35 representative, a beneficiary under a policy of insurance, or

 

 

SB2777 - 17 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 the executor or administrator of his or her estate wherein the
2 patient's physical or mental condition is an issue, (5) upon an
3 issue as to the validity of a document as a will of the
4 patient, (6) in any criminal action where the charge is either
5 first degree murder by abortion, attempted abortion or
6 abortion, (7) in actions, civil or criminal, arising from the
7 filing of a report in compliance with the Abused and Neglected
8 Child Reporting Act, (8) to any department, agency, institution
9 or facility which has custody of the patient pursuant to State
10 statute or any court order of commitment, (9) in prosecutions
11 where written results of blood alcohol tests are admissible
12 pursuant to Section 11-501.4 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, (10)
13 in prosecutions where written results of blood alcohol tests
14 are admissible under Section 5-11a of the Boat Registration and
15 Safety Act, or (11) in criminal actions arising from the filing
16 of a report of suspected terrorist offense in compliance with
17 Section 29D-10(p)(7) of the Criminal Code of 1961.
18     A health care practitioner shall have the right to: (i)
19 communicate at any time and in any fashion with his or her own
20 counsel and professional liability insurer concerning any care
21 or treatment he or she provided, or assisted in providing, to
22 any patient; and (ii) communicate at any time and in any
23 fashion with his or her present or former employer, principal,
24 partner, professional corporation, professional liability
25 insurer, or counsel for the same, concerning care or treatment
26 he or she provided, or assisted in providing, to any patient
27 during the pendency and within the scope of his or her
28 employment or affiliation with the employer, principal,
29 partner, or professional corporation.
30     In the event of a conflict between the application of this
31 Section and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
32 Confidentiality Act to a specific situation, the provisions of
33 the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
34 Confidentiality Act shall control.
35     This amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly applies to
36 causes of action filed on or after its effective date.

 

 

SB2777 - 18 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 (Source: P.A. 87-803; 92-854, eff. 12-5-02.)
 
2     (735 ILCS 5/8-1901)  (from Ch. 110, par. 8-1901)
3     Sec. 8-1901. Admission of liability - Effect.
4     (a) The providing of, or payment for, medical, surgical,
5 hospital, or rehabilitation services, facilities, or equipment
6 by or on behalf of any person, or the offer to provide, or pay
7 for, any one or more of the foregoing, shall not be construed
8 as an admission of any liability by such person or persons.
9 Testimony, writings, records, reports or information with
10 respect to the foregoing shall not be admissible in evidence as
11 an admission of any liability in any action of any kind in any
12 court or before any commission, administrative agency, or other
13 tribunal in this State, except at the instance of the person or
14 persons so making any such provision, payment or offer.
15     (b) Any expression of grief, apology, remedial action, or
16 explanation provided by a health care provider, including, but
17 not limited to, a statement that the health care provider is
18 "sorry" for the outcome to a patient, the patient's family, or
19 the patient's legal representative about an inadequate or
20 unanticipated treatment or care outcome that is provided within
21 72 hours of when the provider knew or should have known of the
22 potential cause of such outcome shall not be admissible as
23 evidence, nor discoverable in any action of any kind in any
24 court or before any tribunal, board, agency, or person. The
25 disclosure of any such information, whether proper, or
26 improper, shall not waive or have any effect upon its
27 confidentiality, nondiscoverability, or inadmissibility. The
28 disclosure of the information for the purpose of bringing a
29 claim for damages against a provider is unlawful and any person
30 convicted of violating any of the provisions of this Section is
31 guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. As used in this Section, a
32 "health care provider" is any hospital, nursing home or other
33 facility, or employee or agent thereof, a physician, or other
34 licensed health care professional. Nothing in this Section
35 precludes the discovery or admissibility of any other facts

 

 

SB2777 - 19 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 regarding the patient's treatment or outcome as otherwise
2 permitted by law.
3 (Source: P.A. 82-280.)
 
4     (735 ILCS 5/8-2501)  (from Ch. 110, par. 8-2501)
5     (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89-7,
6 which has been held unconstitutional)
7     Sec. 8-2501. Expert Witness Standards. In any case in which
8 the standard of care applicable to given by a medical
9 professional profession is at issue, the court shall apply the
10 following standards to determine if a witness qualifies as an
11 expert witness and can testify on the issue of the appropriate
12 standard of care.
13     (a) Whether the witness is board certified or board
14 eligible in the same medical specialties as the defendant and
15 is familiar with the same Relationship of the medical
16 specialties of the witness to the medical problem or problems,
17 or and the type of treatment administered in the case;
18     (b) Whether the witness has devoted 75% a substantial
19 portion of his or her working hours time to the practice of
20 medicine, teaching or University based research in relation to
21 the medical care and type of treatment at issue which gave rise
22 to the medical problem of which the plaintiff complains;
23     (c) whether the witness is licensed by a state or the
24 District of Columbia in the same profession as the defendant;
25 and
26     (d) whether, in the case against a nonspecialist, the
27 witness can demonstrate a sufficient familiarity with the
28 standard of care practiced in this State.
29     An expert shall provide proof of active practice, teaching,
30 or engaging in university-based research. If retired, an expert
31 must provide proof of attendance and completion of continuing
32 education courses for 3 years previous to giving testimony. An
33 expert who has not actively practiced, taught, or been engaged
34 in university-based research for 10 years may not be qualified
35 as an expert witness.

 

 

SB2777 - 20 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     This amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly applies to
2 causes of action filed on or after its effective date.
3 (Source: P.A. 84-7.)
 
4     (735 ILCS 5/8-2505 new)
5     Sec. 8-2505. Preservation of emergency medical care.
6     (a) The General Assembly acknowledges many hospitals and
7 physicians provide great benefits to the citizens of Illinois
8 by operating emergency departments and trauma centers and
9 providing services to individuals in need of emergency care
10 throughout the State, without regard to their ability to pay
11 for such care and often without payment for services. The
12 General Assembly also acknowledges many hospitals and
13 physicians are discontinuing their status as trauma centers or
14 reducing the scope of their emergency care due to the fear of
15 lawsuits based on claims of healing art malpractice. The public
16 and society in general will suffer if these trauma centers
17 cease operations or hospital emergency departments reduce
18 their level of emergency care.
19     (b) Any physician licensed to practice medicine in all its
20 branches under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, any licensed
21 hospital and any of the hospital's employees, agents, apparent
22 agents, and independent contractors, who, in good faith
23 provides emergency care or services to a person who is in need
24 of emergency health care services or treatment and has
25 presented to a hospital for emergency health care services,
26 shall not be liable for civil damages as a result of his, her,
27 or its acts or omissions, except for willful or wanton
28 misconduct on the part of the physician, the hospital, or any
29 of the hospital's employees, independent contractors, agents,
30 or apparent agents in providing the care.
 
31     (735 ILCS 5/13-217)  (from Ch. 110, par. 13-217)
32     (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89-7,
33 which has been held unconstitutional)
34     Sec. 13-217. Reversal or dismissal. In the actions

 

 

SB2777 - 21 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 specified in Article XIII of this Act or any other act or
2 contract where the time for commencing an action is limited, if
3 judgment is entered for the plaintiff but reversed on appeal,
4 or if there is a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and, upon a
5 motion in arrest of judgment, the judgment is entered against
6 the plaintiff, or the action is voluntarily dismissed by the
7 plaintiff, or the action is dismissed for want of prosecution,
8 or the action is dismissed by a United States District Court
9 for lack of jurisdiction, or the action is dismissed by a
10 United States District Court for improper venue, then, whether
11 or not the time limitation for bringing such action expires
12 during the pendency of such action, the plaintiff, his or her
13 heirs, executors or administrators may commence a new action
14 within one year or within the remaining period of limitation,
15 whichever is greater, after such judgment is reversed or
16 entered against the plaintiff, or after the action is
17 voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff, or the action is
18 dismissed for want of prosecution, or the action is dismissed
19 by a United States District Court for lack of jurisdiction, or
20 the action is dismissed by a United States District Court for
21 improper venue. No action that is voluntarily dismissed by the
22 plaintiff or dismissed for want of prosecution by the court may
23 be filed where the time for commencing the action has expired.
24     This amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly applies to
25 causes of action accruing on or after its effective date.
26 (Source: P.A. 87-1252.)
 
27     Section 5-30. The Mental Health and Developmental
28 Disabilities Confidentiality Act is amended by changing
29 Sections 9 and 10 as follows:
 
30     (740 ILCS 110/9)  (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 809)
31     (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89-7,
32 which has been held unconstitutional)
33     Sec. 9. Therapist's disclosure without consent. In the
34 course of providing services and after the conclusion of the

 

 

SB2777 - 22 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 provision of services, a therapist may disclose a record or
2 communications without consent to:
3         (1) the therapist's supervisor, a consulting
4     therapist, members of a staff team participating in the
5     provision of services, a record custodian, or a person
6     acting under the supervision and control of the therapist;
7         (2) persons conducting a peer review of the services
8     being provided;
9         (3) the Institute for Juvenile Research and the
10     Institute for the Study of Developmental Disabilities;
11         (4) an attorney or advocate consulted by a therapist or
12     agency which provides services concerning the therapist's
13     or agency's legal rights or duties in relation to the
14     recipient and the services being provided; and
15         (5) the Inspector General of the Department of Children
16     and Family Services when such records or communications are
17     relevant to a pending investigation authorized by Section
18     35.5 of the Children and Family Services Act where:
19             (A) the recipient was either (i) a parent, foster
20         parent, or caretaker who is an alleged perpetrator of
21         abuse or neglect or the subject of a dependency
22         investigation or (ii) a non-ward victim of alleged
23         abuse or neglect, and
24             (B) available information demonstrates that the
25         mental health of the recipient was or should have been
26         an issue to the safety of the child.
27     In the course of providing services, a therapist may
28 disclose a record or communications without consent to any
29 department, agency, institution or facility which has custody
30 of the recipient pursuant to State statute or any court order
31 of commitment.
32     Information may be disclosed under this Section only to the
33 extent that knowledge of the record or communications is
34 essential to the purpose for which disclosure is made and only
35 after the recipient is informed that such disclosure may be
36 made. A person to whom disclosure is made under this Section

 

 

SB2777 - 23 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 shall not redisclose any information except as provided in this
2 Act.
3     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a
4 therapist has the right to communicate at any time and in any
5 fashion with his or her counsel or professional liability
6 insurance carrier, or both, concerning any care or treatment he
7 or she provided, or assisted in providing, to any recipient. A
8 therapist has the right to communicate at any time and in any
9 fashion with his or her present or former employer, principal,
10 partner, professional corporation, or professional liability
11 insurance carrier, or counsel for any of those entities,
12 concerning any care or treatment he or she provided, or
13 assisted in providing, to the recipient within the scope of his
14 or her employment, affiliation, or other agency with the
15 employer, principal, partner, or professional corporation.
16     This amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly applies to
17 causes of action filed on or after its effective date.
18 (Source: P.A. 86-955; 90-512, eff. 8-22-97.)
 
19     (740 ILCS 110/10)  (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 810)
20     Sec. 10. Disclosure in civil, criminal, and other
21 proceedings.
22     (a) Except as provided herein, in any civil, criminal,
23 administrative, or legislative proceeding, or in any
24 proceeding preliminary thereto, a recipient, and a therapist on
25 behalf and in the interest of a recipient, has the privilege to
26 refuse to disclose and to prevent the disclosure of the
27 recipient's record or communications.
28          (1) Records and communications may be disclosed in a
29     civil, criminal or administrative proceeding in which the
30     recipient introduces his mental condition or any aspect of
31     his services received for such condition as an element of
32     his claim or defense, if and only to the extent the court
33     in which the proceedings have been brought, or, in the case
34     of an administrative proceeding, the court to which an
35     appeal or other action for review of an administrative

 

 

SB2777 - 24 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     determination may be taken, finds, after in camera
2     examination of testimony or other evidence, that it is
3     relevant, probative, not unduly prejudicial or
4     inflammatory, and otherwise clearly admissible; that other
5     satisfactory evidence is demonstrably unsatisfactory as
6     evidence of the facts sought to be established by such
7     evidence; and that disclosure is more important to the
8     interests of substantial justice than protection from
9     injury to the therapist-recipient relationship or to the
10     recipient or other whom disclosure is likely to harm.
11     Except in a criminal proceeding in which the recipient, who
12     is accused in that proceeding, raises the defense of
13     insanity, no record or communication between a therapist
14     and a recipient shall be deemed relevant for purposes of
15     this subsection, except the fact of treatment, the cost of
16     services and the ultimate diagnosis unless the party
17     seeking disclosure of the communication clearly
18     establishes in the trial court a compelling need for its
19     production. However, for purposes of this Act, in any
20     action brought or defended under the Illinois Marriage and
21     Dissolution of Marriage Act, or in any action in which pain
22     and suffering is an element of the claim, mental condition
23     shall not be deemed to be introduced merely by making such
24     claim and shall be deemed to be introduced only if the
25     recipient or a witness on his behalf first testifies
26     concerning the record or communication.
27         (2) Records or communications may be disclosed in a
28     civil proceeding after the recipient's death when the
29     recipient's physical or mental condition has been
30     introduced as an element of a claim or defense by any party
31     claiming or defending through or as a beneficiary of the
32     recipient, provided the court finds, after in camera
33     examination of the evidence, that it is relevant,
34     probative, and otherwise clearly admissible; that other
35     satisfactory evidence is not available regarding the facts
36     sought to be established by such evidence; and that

 

 

SB2777 - 25 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     disclosure is more important to the interests of
2     substantial justice than protection from any injury which
3     disclosure is likely to cause.
4         (3) In the event of a claim made or an action filed by
5     a recipient, or, following the recipient's death, by any
6     party claiming as a beneficiary of the recipient for injury
7     caused in the course of providing services to that such
8     recipient, the therapist and other persons whose actions
9     are alleged to have been the cause of injury may disclose
10     pertinent records and communications to an attorney or
11     attorneys engaged to render advice about and to provide
12     representation in connection with such matter and to
13     persons working under the supervision of such attorney or
14     attorneys, and may testify as to pertinent such records or
15     communications communication in any administrative,
16     judicial or discovery proceeding for the purpose of
17     preparing and presenting a defense against the such claim
18     or action.
19         (3.1) A therapist has the right to communicate at any
20     time and in any fashion with his or her own counsel or
21     professional liability insurance carrier, or both,
22     concerning any care or treatment he or she provided, or
23     assisted in providing, to any patient.
24         (3.2) A therapist has the right to communicate at any
25     time and in any fashion with his or her present or former
26     employer, principal, partner, professional corporation, or
27     professional liability insurance carrier, or counsel for
28     any of those entities, concerning any care or treatment he
29     or she provided, or assisted in providing, to any patient
30     within the scope of his or her employment, affiliation, or
31     other agency with the employer, principal, partner, or
32     professional corporation.
33         (4) Records and communications made to or by a
34     therapist in the course of examination ordered by a court
35     for good cause shown may, if otherwise relevant and
36     admissible, be disclosed in a civil, criminal, or

 

 

SB2777 - 26 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     administrative proceeding in which the recipient is a party
2     or in appropriate pretrial proceedings, provided such
3     court has found that the recipient has been as adequately
4     and as effectively as possible informed before submitting
5     to such examination that such records and communications
6     would not be considered confidential or privileged. Such
7     records and communications shall be admissible only as to
8     issues involving the recipient's physical or mental
9     condition and only to the extent that these are germane to
10     such proceedings.
11         (5) Records and communications may be disclosed in a
12     proceeding under the Probate Act of 1975, to determine a
13     recipient's competency or need for guardianship, provided
14     that the disclosure is made only with respect to that
15     issue.
16         (6) Records and communications may be disclosed when
17     such are made during treatment which the recipient is
18     ordered to undergo to render him fit to stand trial on a
19     criminal charge, provided that the disclosure is made only
20     with respect to the issue of fitness to stand trial.
21         (7) Records and communications of the recipient may be
22     disclosed in any civil or administrative proceeding
23     involving the validity of or benefits under a life,
24     accident, health or disability insurance policy or
25     certificate, or Health Care Service Plan Contract,
26     insuring the recipient, but only if and to the extent that
27     the recipient's mental condition, or treatment or services
28     in connection therewith, is a material element of any claim
29     or defense of any party, provided that information sought
30     or disclosed shall not be redisclosed except in connection
31     with the proceeding in which disclosure is made.
32         (8) Records or communications may be disclosed when
33     such are relevant to a matter in issue in any action
34     brought under this Act and proceedings preliminary
35     thereto, provided that any information so disclosed shall
36     not be utilized for any other purpose nor be redisclosed

 

 

SB2777 - 27 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     except in connection with such action or preliminary
2     proceedings.
3         (9) Records and communications of the recipient may be
4     disclosed in investigations of and trials for homicide when
5     the disclosure relates directly to the fact or immediate
6     circumstances of the homicide.
7         (10) Records and communications of a deceased
8     recipient may be disclosed to a coroner conducting a
9     preliminary investigation into the recipient's death under
10     Section 3-3013 of the Counties Code. However, records and
11     communications of the deceased recipient disclosed in an
12     investigation shall be limited solely to the deceased
13     recipient's records and communications relating to the
14     factual circumstances of the incident being investigated
15     in a mental health facility.
16         (11) Records and communications of a recipient shall be
17     disclosed in a proceeding where a petition or motion is
18     filed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the
19     recipient is named as a parent, guardian, or legal
20     custodian of a minor who is the subject of a petition for
21     wardship as described in Section 2-3 of that Act or a minor
22     who is the subject of a petition for wardship as described
23     in Section 2-4 of that Act alleging the minor is abused,
24     neglected, or dependent or the recipient is named as a
25     parent of a child who is the subject of a petition,
26     supplemental petition, or motion to appoint a guardian with
27     the power to consent to adoption under Section 2-29 of the
28     Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
29         (12) Records and communications of a recipient may be
30     disclosed when disclosure is necessary to collect sums or
31     receive third party payment representing charges for
32     mental health or developmental disabilities services
33     provided by a therapist or agency to a recipient; however,
34     disclosure shall be limited to information needed to pursue
35     collection, and the information so disclosed may not be
36     used for any other purposes nor may it be redisclosed

 

 

SB2777 - 28 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     except in connection with collection activities. Whenever
2     records are disclosed pursuant to this subdivision (12),
3     the recipient of the records shall be advised in writing
4     that any person who discloses mental health records and
5     communications in violation of this Act may be subject to
6     civil liability pursuant to Section 15 of this Act or to
7     criminal penalties pursuant to Section 16 of this Act or
8     both.
9     (b) Before a disclosure is made under subsection (a), any
10 party to the proceeding or any other interested person may
11 request an in camera review of the record or communications to
12 be disclosed. The court or agency conducting the proceeding may
13 hold an in camera review on its own motion, except that this
14 provision does not apply to paragraph (3.1) of subsection (a)
15 regarding consultations between a therapist and his or her own
16 counsel or professional liability insurance carrier or
17 paragraph (3.2) of subsection (a) regarding consultations
18 between a therapist and his or her employer, principal,
19 partner, professional corporation, or professional liability
20 insurance carrier, or counsel for any of those entities. When,
21 contrary to the express wish of the recipient, the therapist
22 asserts a privilege on behalf and in the interest of a
23 recipient, the court may require that the therapist, in an in
24 camera hearing, establish that disclosure is not in the best
25 interest of the recipient. The court or agency may prevent
26 disclosure or limit disclosure to the extent that other
27 admissible evidence is sufficient to establish the facts in
28 issue, except that a court may not prevent or limit disclosures
29 between a therapist and his or her own counsel or between a
30 therapist and his or her employer, principal, partner,
31 professional corporation, or professional liability insurance
32 carrier, or counsel for any of those entities. The court or
33 agency may enter such orders as may be necessary in order to
34 protect the confidentiality, privacy, and safety of the
35 recipient or of other persons. Any order to disclose or to not
36 disclose shall be considered a final order for purposes of

 

 

SB2777 - 29 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 appeal and shall be subject to interlocutory appeal.
2     (c) A recipient's records and communications may be
3 disclosed to a duly authorized committee, commission or
4 subcommittee of the General Assembly which possesses subpoena
5 and hearing powers, upon a written request approved by a
6 majority vote of the committee, commission or subcommittee
7 members. The committee, commission or subcommittee may request
8 records only for the purposes of investigating or studying
9 possible violations of recipient rights. The request shall
10 state the purpose for which disclosure is sought.
11     The facility shall notify the recipient, or his guardian,
12 and therapist in writing of any disclosure request under this
13 subsection within 5 business days after such request. Such
14 notification shall also inform the recipient, or guardian, and
15 therapist of their right to object to the disclosure within 10
16 business days after receipt of the notification and shall
17 include the name, address and telephone number of the
18 committee, commission or subcommittee member or staff person
19 with whom an objection shall be filed. If no objection has been
20 filed within 15 business days after the request for disclosure,
21 the facility shall disclose the records and communications to
22 the committee, commission or subcommittee. If an objection has
23 been filed within 15 business days after the request for
24 disclosure, the facility shall disclose the records and
25 communications only after the committee, commission or
26 subcommittee has permitted the recipient, guardian or
27 therapist to present his objection in person before it and has
28 renewed its request for disclosure by a majority vote of its
29 members.
30     Disclosure under this subsection shall not occur until all
31 personally identifiable data of the recipient and provider are
32 removed from the records and communications. Disclosure under
33 this subsection shall not occur in any public proceeding.
34     (d) No party to any proceeding described under paragraphs
35 (1), (2), (3), (4), (7), or (8) of subsection (a) of this
36 Section, nor his or her attorney, shall serve a subpoena

 

 

SB2777 - 30 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 seeking to obtain access to records or communications under
2 this Act unless the subpoena is accompanied by a written order
3 issued by a judge, authorizing the disclosure of the records or
4 the issuance of the subpoena. No person shall comply with a
5 subpoena for records or communications under this Act, unless
6 the subpoena is accompanied by a written order authorizing the
7 issuance of the subpoena or the disclosure of the records.
8     (e) When a person has been transported by a peace officer
9 to a mental health facility, then upon the request of a peace
10 officer, if the person is allowed to leave the mental health
11 facility within 48 hours of arrival, excluding Saturdays,
12 Sundays, and holidays, the facility director shall notify the
13 local law enforcement authority prior to the release of the
14 person. The local law enforcement authority may re-disclose the
15 information as necessary to alert the appropriate enforcement
16 or prosecuting authority.
17     (f) A recipient's records and communications shall be
18 disclosed to the Inspector General of the Department of Human
19 Services within 10 business days of a request by the Inspector
20 General in the course of an investigation authorized by the
21 Abused and Neglected Long Term Care Facility Residents
22 Reporting Act and applicable rule. The request shall be in
23 writing and signed by the Inspector General or his or her
24 designee. The request shall state the purpose for which
25 disclosure is sought. Any person who knowingly and willfully
26 refuses to comply with such a request is guilty of a Class A
27 misdemeanor.
28     This amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly applies to
29 causes of action filed on or after its effective date.
30 (Source: P.A. 91-726, eff. 6-2-00; 92-358, eff. 8-15-01;
31 92-708, eff. 7-19-02.)
 
32     Section 5-35. The Wrongful Death Act is amended by changing
33 Section 1 as follows:
 
34     (740 ILCS 180/1)  (from Ch. 70, par. 1)

 

 

SB2777 - 31 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1     (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89-7,
2 which has been held unconstitutional)
3     Sec. 1. Whenever the death of a person shall be caused by
4 wrongful act, neglect or default, and the act, neglect or
5 default is such as would, if death had not ensued, have
6 entitled the party injured to maintain an action and recover
7 damages in respect thereof, then and in every such case the
8 person who or company or corporation which would have been
9 liable if death had not ensued, shall be liable to an action
10 for damages, notwithstanding the death of the person injured,
11 and although the death shall have been caused under such
12 circumstances as amount in law to felony. No action may be
13 brought under this Act if the decedent had brought a cause of
14 action with respect to the same underlying incident or
15 occurrence that was settled or on which judgment was rendered.
16     This amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly applies
17 only to causes of action accruing on or after its effective
18 date.
19 (Source: Laws 1853, p. 97.)
 
20     Section 5-40. The Good Samaritan Act is amended by changing
21 Section 30 as follows:
 
22     (745 ILCS 49/30)
23     Sec. 30. Free medical clinic; exemption from civil
24 liability for services performed without compensation.
25     (a) A person licensed under the Medical Practice Act of
26 1987, a person licensed to practice the treatment of human
27 ailments in any other state or territory of the United States,
28 or a health care professional, including but not limited to an
29 advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, nurse,
30 pharmacist, physical therapist, podiatrist, or social worker
31 licensed in this State or any other state or territory of the
32 United States, who, in good faith, provides medical treatment,
33 diagnosis, or advice as a part of the services of an
34 established free medical clinic providing care to medically

 

 

SB2777 - 32 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 indigent patients which is limited to care that does not
2 require the services of a licensed hospital or ambulatory
3 surgical treatment center and who receives no fee or
4 compensation from that source shall not be liable for civil
5 damages as a result of his or her acts or omissions in
6 providing that medical treatment, except for willful or wanton
7 misconduct.
8     (b) For purposes of this Section, a "free medical clinic"
9 is an organized community based program providing medical care
10 without charge to individuals unable to pay for it, at which
11 the care provided does not include the use of general
12 anesthesia or require an overnight stay in a health-care
13 facility.
14     (c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Section do not
15 apply to a particular case unless the free medical clinic has
16 posted in a conspicuous place on its premises an explanation of
17 the exemption from civil liability provided herein.
18     (d) The immunity from civil damages provided under
19 subsection (a) also applies to physicians, hospitals, and other
20 health care providers that provide further medical treatment,
21 diagnosis, or advice to a patient upon referral from an
22 established free medical clinic without fee or compensation.
23 The immunity for civil damages provided under subsection (a)
24 also applies to physicians and other health care professionals
25 that provide medical treatment, diagnosis, or advice at
26 federally qualified health care centers without fee or
27 compensation.
28     (e) Nothing in this Section prohibits a free medical clinic
29 from accepting voluntary contributions for medical services
30 provided to a patient who has acknowledged his or her ability
31 and willingness to pay a portion of the value of the medical
32 services provided.
33     (f) Any voluntary contribution collected for providing
34 care at a free medical clinic shall be used only to pay
35 overhead expenses of operating the clinic. No portion of any
36 moneys collected shall be used to provide a fee or other

 

 

SB2777 - 33 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 compensation to any person licensed under Medical Practice Act
2 of 1987.
3 (Source: P.A. 89-607, eff. 1-1-97; 90-742, eff. 8-13-98.)
 
4
ARTICLE 90

 
5     Section 90-90. Severability. If any provision of this Act,
6 including both the new and the amendatory provisions, or its
7 application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
8 invalidity of that provision or application does not affect
9 other provisions or applications of this Act that can be given
10 effect without the invalid provision or application.
 
11
ARTICLE 99

 
12     Section 99-99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
13 becoming law.

 

 

SB2777 - 34 - LRB093 20838 LCB 46766 b

1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3     New Act
4     20 ILCS 2310/2310-220 was 20 ILCS 2310/55.73
5     215 ILCS 5/155.18a new
6     305 ILCS 5/5-5.25 new
7     710 ILCS 15/8 from Ch. 10, par. 208
8     710 ILCS 15/9 from Ch. 10, par. 209
9     735 ILCS 5/2-622 from Ch. 110, par. 2-622
10     735 ILCS 5/2-625 new
11     735 ILCS 5/2-1107.1 from Ch. 110, par. 2-1107.1
12     735 ILCS 5/2-1109 from Ch. 110, par. 2-1109
13     735 ILCS 5/2-1702 from Ch. 110, par. 2-1702
14     735 ILCS 5/2-1704 from Ch. 110, par. 2-1704
15     735 ILCS 5/8-802 from Ch. 110, par. 8-802
16     735 ILCS 5/8-1901 from Ch. 110, par. 8-1901
17     735 ILCS 5/8-2501 from Ch. 110, par. 8-2501
18     735 ILCS 5/8-2505 new
19     735 ILCS 5/13-217 from Ch. 110, par. 13-217
20     740 ILCS 110/9 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 809
21     740 ILCS 110/10 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 810
22     740 ILCS 180/1 from Ch. 70, par. 1
23     745 ILCS 49/30