Montana Title 37. Professions and Occupations § 37-2-404. Medical practice group quality assurance--confidentiality--exception--liability of members

(1) Except as provided in subsection (6), the proceedings of a quality assurance committee of a medical practice group, the data it produces, and the material it considers:

(2) A person who was in attendance at a meeting of the quality assurance committee may not be required to testify in any civil action about:

(3) Information otherwise available is not immune from discovery or use in a civil action merely because the information was presented during proceedings of the quality assurance committee. Nothing in this section may prevent a medical practitioner from using otherwise available information in connection with an administrative hearing or civil suit relating to the medical staff membership, clinical privileges, or employment of the medical practitioner.

(4) A member of the quality assurance committee or a person who provides information orally or in writing to a quality assurance committee may be subpoenaed and required to testify in a civil action regarding events about which the person has knowledge independent of the quality assurance program. The member or person may not be asked:

(5) All data relating to quality assurance committee activities compiled under this part must be maintained in a confidential location separate from patient medical records.

(6) The governing body of a medical practice group may waive privileges under this section and release information or present data of the quality assurance program by discovery, subpoena, or admission into evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding. Without waiving privileges under this section, the governing body of a medical practice group may voluntarily release information or present data to a health care facility quality assurance committee established under 50-16-202. The information or records must be subject to the privileges and immunities provided for in 50-16-202.

(7) A duly appointed member of a quality assurance committee who acts without malice or fraud may not be subject to liability for damages in any civil action because of any act, statement, or proceeding undertaken, made, or performed within the scope of the functions of the quality assurance committee.