8.01-581.19:1 - Civil immunity for persons providing information to certain committees - Virginia Statutes

§ 8.01-581.19:1. Civil immunity for persons providing information to certaincommittees.

Any person who provides information to any committee, board, group,commission, or other entity which is authorized to investigate any complaintof physical or mental impairment, that may show that any practitioner ofmedicine, osteopathy, optometry, chiropractic, podiatry, clinical psychology,physical therapy, veterinary medicine or any physical therapist assistant isunable to practice his profession with reasonable skill and safety, by reasonof the use of alcohol, drugs, or other substances, or as a result of anymental or physical condition, shall be immune from civil liability for anyact done for, or any utterance or communication made to, such entity in thecourse of providing such information. However, this section shall not applyif the act, utterance, or communication is done or made in bad faith or withmalicious intent or if such disclosure is prohibited by federal law orregulations promulgated thereunder.

The provisions of this section shall apply only to such entities described inthis section as are (i) established pursuant to a federal or state law, (ii)established and duly constituted by one or more public or licensed privatehospitals, (iii) a medical or chiropractic society that is operating itshealth care provider impairment program in cooperation with the Board ofMedicine, or another governmental agency, (iv) an optometric society orassociation that is operating its optometric impairment program incooperation with the Virginia Board of Optometry, (v) a veterinary medicalassociation that is operating its veterinarian impairment program incooperation with the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine, or (vi) aclinical psychology academy that is operating its clinical psychologyimpairment program in cooperation with the Board of Psychology.

(1986, c. 604; 1987, c. 713; 1989, c. 729; 1993, c. 702; 1996, cc. 937, 980.)