§ 9-19-12 - Statements and releases by patients in personal injury cases. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 9-19-12

   § 9-19-12  Statements and releases bypatients in personal injury cases. – Except as provided below, no settlement or general release or statement inwriting signed by any person confined in a hospital or sanitarium as a patientwith reference to any personal injuries for which the person is confined in thehospital or sanitarium shall be admissible in evidence, used or referred to inany manner, at the trial of any action to recover damages for personal injuriesor consequential damages, so called, resulting therefrom, which statement,settlement, or general release was obtained within fifteen (15) days afterinjuries were sustained, and the settlement or release shall be null and voidunless at least five (5) days prior to the obtaining or procuring of thegeneral release or statement the injured party had signified in writing his orher willingness that the general release or statement be given. This sectionshall not apply to statements or releases obtained by police officers orinspectors of motor vehicles in the performance of their duty, from members ofthe family of the person, or by or on behalf of his or her attorney.