S-0458.2  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5186

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senators Goings, Roach, Haugen, Johnson, Winsley and Rasmussen

Read first time 01/17/97.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

Authorizing the collection, retention, and dissemination of medical information in emergency situations.

    AN ACT Relating to the dissemination of medical information for use in emergency situations; and adding a new section to chapter 70.24 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 70.24 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Law enforcement and fire departments may collect, retain, and disseminate medical information in accordance with rules adopted under this section.

    (2) Only medical information obtained voluntarily from the person who is the subject of the emergency may be collected, retained, or disseminated.

    (3) Information may be broadcast as a part of a service call, must not identify the nature of the medical records or the person who may have a medical condition and who is likely to be at the scene of the incident, and may be used only as a method of alerting the persons responding to the call that a person who is likely to be at the scene of the incident may have a medical condition.

    (4) Knowledge of a person's medical condition, including the presence of a communicable disease, should not change the level of treatment provided for that person.

    (5) The department of labor and industries shall adopt rules implementing this section.

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