Connecticut General Statutes Title 19A. Public Health and Well-Being § 19a-59j. Infant mortality review program. Confidentiality of information

(a) As used in this section and section 19a-59k, “infant death” means the death of a child that occurs between birth and one year of age.

(b) There is established, within the Department of Public Health, an infant mortality review program. The purpose of the program shall be to review medical records and other relevant data related to infant deaths, including, but not limited to, information collected from death and birth records, and medical records from health care providers and health care facilities for the purposes of making recommendations to reduce health care disparities and identify gaps in or problems with the delivery of care or services to reduce infant deaths.

(c) All health care providers, health care facilities and pharmacies shall provide the Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee, with access to all medical and other records associated with an infant death case under review by the program, including, but not limited to, prenatal care records, upon the request of the commissioner.

(d) A person who completes a death certificate pursuant to section 7-62b or 19a-409 for an infant death shall report such death to the department in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the commissioner shall notify the child fatality review panel, established pursuant to section 46a-13l, of an infant death if, pursuant to a review performed by the infant mortality review program, the commissioner determines that such infant death occurred in out-of-home care or was due to unexpected or unexplained causes.

(f) All information obtained by the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, for the infant mortality review program shall be confidential pursuant to section 19a-25.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, may provide the infant mortality review committee, established pursuant to section 19a-59k, with information as is necessary, in the commissioner's discretion, for the committee to make recommendations regarding the prevention of infant deaths.

(h) The provisions of this section and section 19a-59k shall not be construed to limit or alter the authority of the Office of the Child Advocate or the child fatality review panel, established pursuant to section 46a-13l, to investigate or make recommendations regarding a child's death pursuant to the provisions of said section.