November 27, 2008

NEW RULES FOR REPORTING GUNSHOT AND STAB WOUNDS TO TAKE EFFECT DEC. 1– – –
Legislation Resolves Uncertainty for Health-care Professionals: Chomiak


New legislation that makes it mandatory for health-care facilities to report all gunshot wounds and certain stab wounds to police will take effect Dec. 1, Attorney General Dave Chomiak announced today.

“This act helps health-care professionals balance the need for public safety and the need to maintain patient confidentiality,” Chomiak said. “It clarifies who should report, who they should call, what they need to share and when they need to do it.”

The Gunshot and Stab Wounds Mandatory Reporting Act requires health-care facilities to notify police when they treat a patient with a gunshot wound or who appears to have been stabbed by someone else.

Health-care professionals would treat the patients’ wounds first. The facility would report the wounds as soon as possible without interfering with treatment. The act does not apply to intentional or accidental self-inflicted stab wounds.

“Informing police about gunshot and stab wounds quickly can prevent further violence, injuries and deaths,” Chomiak said. “This addresses public safety concerns by letting police make the best use of those critical first few hours in an investigation.”

Manitoba’s existing Personal Health Information Act allows some information to be disclosed to prevent or lessen a serious and immediate threat to the health or safety of an individual or the public. The new legislation adds clarity for health-care professionals.

Information provided to the police under the new legislation will be limited to the fact that an individual with a wound is being treated, their name if it is known and the name and location of the treatment facility. No other medical information would be shared.

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