CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5065

Chapter 118, Laws of 2005

59th Legislature
2005 Regular Session



HOSPITALS--STATEMENTS TO PATIENTS--LIABILITY



EFFECTIVE DATE: 7/24/05

Passed by the Senate March 10, 2005
  YEAS 46   NAYS 1

BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
Passed by the House April 6, 2005
  YEAS 98   NAYS 0

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


 
CERTIFICATE

I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5065 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

THOMAS HOEMANN
________________________________________    
Secretary
Approved April 21, 2005.








CHRISTINE GREGOIRE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
April 21, 2005 - 3:37 p.m.







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5065
_____________________________________________

Passed Legislature - 2005 Regular Session
State of Washington59th Legislature2005 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Thibaudeau, Deccio, Jacobsen, Parlette, Kohl-Welles and Keiser)

READ FIRST TIME 02/25/05.   



     AN ACT Relating to injuries resulting from health care; adding a new section to chapter 70.41 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 70.41 RCW to read as follows:
     Hospitals shall have in place policies to assure that, when appropriate, information about unanticipated outcomes is provided to patients or their families or any surrogate decision makers identified pursuant to RCW 7.70.065. Notifications of unanticipated outcomes under this section do not constitute an acknowledgement or admission of liability, nor can the fact of notification, the content disclosed, or any and all statements, affirmations, gestures, or conduct expressing apology be introduced as evidence in a civil action.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   Beginning January 1, 2006, the department shall, during the survey of a hospital, ensure that the policy required in section 1 of this act is in place.


         Passed by the Senate March 10, 2005.
         Passed by the House April 6, 2005.
         Approved by the Governor April 21, 2005.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State April 21, 2005.