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LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 483

(4)   When providing information to government
agencies in the performance of their lawful duties as
authorized by an act of the General Assembly or United
States Congress; or

(5)   When providing information at the request of
a researcher for the purpose of medical and health care
research pursuant to a protocol approved by an institutional
review board; or

(6)   In any instance in which the provider of
medical care reveals the contents of medical records under
circumstances where the identity of the patient is not
disclosed to the recipient of the records; or

(7)   When providing information —[—to an
insurance company] , OR TO A DEFENDANT OR A DEFENDANT'S
LEGAL COUNSEL, in connection with a potential or actual
malpractice claim against a provider of medical care; or

(8)   When providing information requested by
another provider of medical care for the sole purpose of
treating the person on whom the record was maintained; or

(9)   When providing information to a third party
payor solely for billing purposes; or

(10)   When providing information to a nonprofit
health service plan or a Blue Cross or Blue Shield plan for
the purpose of coordinating benefit payments under more than
one sickness and accident, dental, or hospital and medical
insurance policy other than an individual policy[.]; OR.

(11) WHEN PROVIDING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES

OF EVALUATING, SETTLING, OR DEFENDING ANY CLAIM OR SUIT FOR

PERSONAL INJURY.

(d) (1) Any provider     of medical care who knowingly

violates this section shall   be liable to any plaintiff for

any damages recoverable       in law or equity including
reasonable attorney's fees.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1979.

Approved May 29, 1979.

CHAPTER 484
(Senate Bill 785)
AN ACT concerning