New Jersey News: Health Care Professional Responsibility and Reporting Enhancement Act

July 1, 2006 3:27 pm Topics: Patient safety

Reprinted from the July 2006 New Jersey Board of Pharmacy Newsletter.

The Health Care Professional Responsibility and Reporting Enhancement Act requires a health care professional to promptly notify the Division of Consumer Affairs or Board if he or she is in possession of information that reasonably indicates that another health care professional has demonstrated an impairment, gross incompetence, or unprofessional conduct, which would present an imminent danger to an individual patient or to the public health, safety, or welfare (see NJSA 45:1-37). The act also includes language that provides immunity from civil liability for anyone who provides information in good faith and without malice and provides for confidentiality of information pending final disposition of the inquiry or investigation.