Illinois Statutes Chapter 410. Public Health § 70/5.1. Storage, retention, and dissemination of photo documentation relating to medical forensic services

(a) Photo documentation taken during a medical forensic examination shall be maintained by the hospital or approved pediatric health care facility as part of the patient's medical record.

Photo documentation shall be stored and backed up securely in its original file format in accordance with facility protocol. The facility protocol shall require limited access to the images and be included in the sexual assault treatment plan submitted to the Department.

Photo documentation of a sexual assault survivor under the age of 18 shall be retained for a period of 60 years after the sexual assault survivor reaches the age of 18. Photo documentation of a sexual assault survivor 18 years of age or older shall be retained for a period of 20 years after the record was created.

Photo documentation of the sexual assault survivor's injuries, anatomy involved in the assault, or other visible evidence on the sexual assault survivor's body may be used for peer review, expert second opinion, or in a criminal proceeding against a person accused of sexual assault, a proceeding under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987,  1 or in an investigation under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.  2 Any dissemination of photo documentation, including for peer review, an expert second opinion, or in any court or administrative proceeding or investigation, must be in accordance with State and federal law.

(b) This Section is effective on and after January 1, 2024.