Patient Information Privacy Protection Act (PIPPA)

Introduction and Purpose:

The purpose of this legislation is to protect individuals’ health information, ensuring that their sensitive medical records are treated with confidentiality and respect. If a patient is conscious and responsive and can confirm in person to a doctor that they want their records released, this process is not required.

This does not apply to the sharing of medical information through word of mouth, which if done without valid reason or consent will be handled internally by each faction. When a medical report is handed to a member of PD or the DOJ using this process, that is also consent to the report being made publicly available on the docket.

Constitutional Justification:

This legislation is vital to protect each individual’s Right to Privacy by keeping patients informed on the steps that have to be taken for their medical records to be released, and give them control over who can authorize their records being made public.

‌Details:

Submission of a Request:

• A lawyer or member of the Police Department must submit a request to the Los Santos Medical Group.
• This report must be submitted through a form that can be provided by medical staff.
• The request must include documentation of a medical release created within the contract app.

Content of Medical Release:

• The medical release must state that the emergency contact authorizes the requester to receive medical reports of the patient, and state the date or dates of reports to be shared.
• The medical release contract must be signed by both the emergency contact and the requester in order to be considered valid.
• Any of the patient’s emergency contacts may sign for records to be released.

Unique Situations:

• If neither the patient or an emergency contact can or will sign for this information to be produced, but the records are still required, they must be subpoenaed through the Department of Justice.
• All reports from the Psych Department will only be released by the Los Santos Medical Group to the Judge attached to a case, and will only be posted on the docket if determined necessary by that Judge.
• Medical releases are not required for autopsies as the deceased do not have rights.

‌Implementation:

Enacted by Chief Justice Crane on behalf of the Council of Eight (Unanimous) 2024-02-27

Amended by 𝕵𝖚𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖈𝖊 𝕬𝖉𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖊 𝕳𝖆𝖗𝖙 2024-07-10