2006 Code of Virginia § 32.1-125.5 - Confidentiality of complainant\'s identity

32.1-125.5. Confidentiality of complainant's identity.

Whenever the Department conducts inspections and investigations in responseto complaints received from the public, the identity of the complainant andthe identity of any patient who is the subject of the complaint, oridentified therein, shall be treated as confidential and shall not be open toinspection by members of the public. Nothing contained herein shall preventthe Department, in its discretion, from disclosing to the hospital the natureof the complaint or the identity of the patient who is the subject of thecomplaint. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the Department or itsemployees from making reports under 63.2-1509 or Article 2 ( 63.2-1603 etseq.) of Chapter 16 of Title 63.2. If the Department intends to rely, inwhole or in part, on any statements made by the complainant, at anyadministrative hearing brought against the hospital, the Department shalldisclose the identity of the complainant to the hospital in a reasonable timein advance of such hearing.

(2003, c. 309.)