Vermont Statutes Title 18. Health, § 1916. Intentional unsafe acts

(a) A hospital shall notify the Department, within the time frames established by regulation, if the information available supports a reasonable, good faith belief that an intentional unsafe act as it pertains to patients has occurred.

(b) For intentional unsafe acts reportable to other departments or agencies, a hospital shall notify the Department of Health or provide a copy of any written report. Such reports shall not constitute a waiver of peer review or any other privilege.

(c) If the Department confirms or independently concludes, based on a reasonable, good faith belief, that an intentional unsafe act occurred, it shall notify relevant State and federal licensing and other regulatory entities and, in the case of possible criminal activity, relevant State and federal law enforcement authorities.

(d) There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause of action for damages shall arise against any individual or hospital for any act or proceeding related to activities undertaken or performed within the scope of the obligations imposed by this section, provided that the individual or hospital acts without malice and with the reasonable belief that the action is warranted by the facts known after making reasonable efforts to obtain all the facts.

(e) Nothing in this section shall prevent a hospital from conducting its own investigation or peer review.