Indiana § 16-41-8-4 - Procedure for obtaining medical information concerning a person charged with certain offenses

§ 16-41-8-4. Procedure for obtaining medical information concerning a person charged with certain offenses

Sec. 4. (a) This section:

(1) applies to the release of medical information that may be relevant to the prosecution or defense of a person who has been charged with a potentially disease transmitting offense; and

(2) does not apply to the disclosure by a covered entity, business associate acting on behalf of a covered entity, or health care provider of medical information of an alleged perpetrator if the covered entity, business associate, or health care provider, in good faith, believes that the disclosure provides evidence of criminal conduct that occurred on its premises.

(b) A:

(1) prosecuting attorney may seek to obtain access to a defendant's medical information if the defendant has been charged with a potentially disease transmitting offense; and

(2) defendant who has been charged with a potentially disease transmitting offense may seek access to the medical information of another person if the medical information would be relevant to the defendant's defense;

by filing a verified petition for the release of medical information with the court.

(c) The prosecuting attorney or defendant who files a petition under subsection (b) shall serve a copy of the petition on:

(1) the person whose medical information is sought;

(2) the guardian, guardian ad litem, or court appointed special advocate appointed for a minor, parent, or custodian of a person who is incompetent, if applicable; and

(3) the provider that maintains the record, or the attorney general if the provider is a state agency;

at the time of filing in accordance with Indiana Trial Rule 4.

(d) The court shall set the matter for hearing not later than twenty (20) days after the date of filing.

(e) If, following a hearing for release of a person's medical information, the court finds probable cause to believe that the medical information may be relevant to the prosecution or defense of a person who has been charged with a potentially disease transmitting offense, the court shall order the person having custody of the person's medical information to release the medical information to the court.

(f) The court shall examine the person's medical information in camera. If, after examining the medical information in camera and considering the evidence presented at the hearing, the court finds probable cause to believe that the medical information is relevant to the prosecution or defense of a person who has been charged with a potentially disease transmitting offense, the court may order the release of a person's medical information to the petitioner.

(g) In an order issued under subsection (f), the court shall:

(1) permit the disclosure of only those parts of the person's medical information that are essential to fulfill the objective of the order;

(2) restrict access to the medical information to those persons whose need for the information is the basis of the order; and

(3) include in its order any other appropriate measures to limit disclosure of the medical information to protect the right to privacy of the person who is the subject of the medical information.

(h) A hearing for the release of a person's medical information may be closed to the public. The transcript of the hearing, the court's order, and all documents filed in connection with the hearing are confidential. In addition, if a person's medical information is disclosed in a legal proceeding, the court shall order the record or transcript of the testimony to be preserved as a confidential court record.

(i) This section does not prohibit the application to medical information of any law concerning medical information that is not addressed by this section.

As added by P.L.125-2009, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.1-2010, SEC.72; P.L.143-2025, SEC.33.