2024 California Code
Evidence Code - EVID
DIVISION 10 - HEARSAY EVIDENCE
CHAPTER 2 - Exceptions to the Hearsay Rule
ARTICLE 5 - Statements of Mental or Physical State
Section 1253.

1253. Subject to Section 1252, evidence of a statement is not made inadmissible by the hearsay rule if the statement was made for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment and describes medical history, or past or present symptoms, pain, or sensations, or the inception or general character of the cause or external source thereof insofar as reasonably pertinent to diagnosis or treatment. This section applies only to a statement made by a victim who is a minor at the time of the proceedings, provided the statement was made when the victim was under the age of 12 describing any act, or attempted act, of child abuse or neglect. “Child abuse” and “child neglect,” for purposes of this section, have the meanings provided in subdivision (c) of Section 1360. In addition, “child abuse” means any act proscribed by Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 281) of Title 9 of Part 1 of the Penal Code committed against a minor.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 87, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.)