Illinois § 24

§ 24.

Report of violations; medical associations. (a) Any physician licensed under this Act, the Illinois State Medical Society, the Illinois Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, the Illinois Chiropractic Society, the Illinois Prairie State Chiropractic Association, or any component societies of any of these 4 groups, and any other person, may report to the Medical Board any information the physician, association, society, or person may have that appears to show that a physician is or may be in violation of any of the provisions of Section 22 of this Act. (b) The Department may enter into agreements with the Illinois State Medical Society, the Illinois Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, the Illinois Prairie State Chiropractic Association, or the Illinois Chiropractic Society to allow these organizations to assist the Medical Board in the review of alleged violations of this Act. Subject to the approval of the Department, any organization party to such an agreement may subcontract with other individuals or organizations to assist in review. (c) Any physician, association, society, or person participating in good faith in the making of a report under this Act or participating in or assisting with an investigation or review under this Act shall have immunity from any civil, criminal, or other liability that might result by reason of those actions. (d) The medical information in the custody of an entity under contract with the Department participating in an investigation or review shall be privileged and confidential to the same extent as are information and reports under the provisions of Part 21 of Article VIII of the Code of Civil Procedure. (e) Upon request by the Department after a mandatory report has been filed with the Department, an attorney for any party seeking to recover damages for injuries or death by reason of medical, hospital, or other healing art malpractice shall provide patient records related to the physician involved in the disciplinary proceeding to the Department within 30 days of the Department's request for use by the Department in any disciplinary matter under this Act. An attorney who provides patient records to the Department in accordance with this requirement shall not be deemed to have violated any attorney-client privilege. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, consent by a patient shall not be required for the provision of patient records in accordance with this requirement. (f) For the purpose of any civil or criminal proceedings, the good faith of any physician, association, society or person shall be presumed. (Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)