LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 718

(House Bill 1078)

AN ACT concerning

Physical Therapists - Physical Therapist Rehabilitation Committee

FOR the purpose of designating certain groups and persons as
physical therapists rehabilitation committees; granting
physical therapists rehabilitation committees certain
immunity from certain civil liability under certain
circumstances; providing that the proceedings, records, and
files of physical therapist rehabilitation committees are
not discoverable and not admissible in evidence in certain
civil actions; and generally relating to physical therapist
rehabilitation committees.

BY adding to

Article - Health Occupations

Section 13-318

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1986 Replacement Volume and 1987 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, In its nine year history, the Maryland Medical and
Chirurgical Faculty's Physician Rehabilitation Committee has
investigated more than 300 reports of alcohol addiction, drug
addiction, and mental illness and has contributed to the
achievement of over more than 150 recoveries by physicians; and

WHEREAS, By making rehabilitation a priority over
punishment, the Committee has been able to successfully help
physicians while protecting the public; and

WHEREAS, Physicians and physical therapists are also
afflicted by alcohol and drug addiction and mental illness and
these afflictions may affect their performance; and

WHEREAS, The public would benefit if the American Physical
Therapy Association of Maryland established a physical therapist
rehabilitation committee; and

WHEREAS, The physical therapist rehabilitation committee
will be able to best accomplish its purpose if those who
participate in its activities are immune from civil liability and
its proceedings, records, and files are not discoverable and not
admissible in evidence in civil actions; now, therefore,

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Ch. 718