New York Consolidated Laws, Public Health Law - PBH § 2003. Duties of department

1. Alzheimer's disease reports and data shall be maintained by the department in a manner suitable for research purposes, and shall be made available to persons as set forth in subdivision two of this section.

2. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, all information collected pursuant to this article shall be confidential insofar as the identity of the individual patient is concerned and shall be used solely for the purposes as provided in this article.  Access to the information shall be limited to the authorized employees of the department and persons with a valid scientific interest and qualifications, as defined by the commissioner, who are engaged in demographic, epidemiological or other similar studies related to health, and who agree, in writing, to maintain confidentiality as established by the commissioner.

3. The department shall maintain an accurate record of all persons who are given access to the information contained in the Alzheimer's disease reports.  The record shall include the name of the person authorizing access, the name, title and organizational affiliation of persons given access, dates of access, and the specific purpose for which information is to be used.  The record of access shall be open to public inspection during normal operating hours of the department.

4. Any person who, in violation of a written agreement to maintain confidentiality, discloses any information provided pursuant to this section, or who uses information provided pursuant to this section in a manner other than that prescribed by the commissioner, may be denied further access to any confidential information maintained by the department.