Sec. 19a-56b. (Formerly Sec. 10a-132d). Confidentiality of birth defects information. Access. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 19a-56b. (Formerly Sec. 10a-132d). Confidentiality of birth defects information. Access. (a) All information collected and analyzed pursuant to section 19a-56a shall be confidential insofar as the identity of the individual patient is concerned and shall be used solely for the purposes of the program in accordance with section 19a-25. Access to such information shall be limited to the Department of Public Health and persons with a valid scientific interest and qualifications as determined by the Commissioner of Public Health, provided the department and such persons are engaged in demographic, epidemiologic or other similar studies related to health and agree, in writing, to maintain confidentiality as prescribed in this section.

      (b) The commissioner shall prepare detailed policies and procedures for maintaining confidentiality of program information.

      (c) The commissioner shall maintain an accurate record of all persons who are given access to the information in the system. The record shall include: The name, title and organizational affiliation of persons given access; dates of access; and the specific purpose for which information is to be used. The record of access shall be open to public inspection during the department's normal operating hours.

      (d) All research proposed to be conducted using identifying information in the system established pursuant to section 19a-56a or requiring contact with affected individuals shall be reviewed and approved in advance by the commissioner.

      (e) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the commissioner from publishing statistical compilations relating to birth defects or other adverse reproductive outcomes which do not in any way identify individual cases or individual sources of information.

      (f) Any person who, in violation of a written agreement to maintain confidentiality, discloses any information provided pursuant to this section, or who uses information provided pursuant to this section in a manner other than that approved by the department, may be denied further access to any confidential information maintained by the program. This denial of access shall not be construed as restricting any remedy, provisional or otherwise, provided by law for the benefit of the department or person.

      (P.A. 89-340, S. 2, 4; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-250, S. 7, 39.)

      History: P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-250 amended Subsec. (c) to delete requirement of name of person authorizing access and made technical changes throughout section to reflect transfer of program from University of Connecticut School of Medicine to Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1998; Sec. 10a-132d transferred to Sec. 19a-56b in 1999.