The bill amends Section 23-17-19.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17, entitled "Licensing of Healthcare Facilities," to update the rights of patients in healthcare facilities. The amendment includes the insertion of new language that specifies the conditions under which a healthcare facility may engage in human-subjects research involving patients. Specifically, it allows for research without prospective informed consent in life-threatening situations where the patient cannot consent and no legal representative is available, or when an institutional review board approves the research according to federal regulations on patient consent and de-identification (21 C.F.R. Pt. 50 and 45 C.F.R. Pt. 46). The bill also includes a deletion, changing the word "and" to "or" in the context of the conditions for when a facility is not required to inform a patient about research participation.

Additionally, the bill outlines various patient rights, such as the right to considerate and respectful care, information about their treatment and caregivers, privacy, and the right to refuse treatment. It also mandates that healthcare facilities must respond to requests for medical services and provide information about transfers, research participation, billing, and hospice care. The bill prohibits charges for furnishing health records for certain purposes, such as supporting appeals under the Social Security Act or claims under the Workers' Compensation Act. The act would take effect upon passage, and it aims to ensure that healthcare facilities conduct patient research in compliance with informed consent regulations while maintaining patient rights.

Statutes affected:
5506: 23-17-19.1