FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

 

In the Matter of a Complaint by                        Final Decision

 

Allan Bruce Hemmings,

 

                                Complainant

 

                against                   Docket #FIC 95-166

 

Whiting Forensic Institute, State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health,

 

                                Respondent                          April 24, 1996

 

                The above-captioned matter was heard as a contested case on December 14, 1995, at which time the complainant and the respondent appeared, and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint.

 

                After consideration of the entire record, the following facts are found and conclusions of law are reached:

 

                1.  The respondent is a public agency within the meaning of 1-18a(a), G.S., and a mental health facility as set forth in 17a-560, G.S., et seq.

 

                2.             It is found that by letter dated April 24, 1995 the complainant requested two sets of "unedited, uncensored copies of his Whiting [m]edical [r]ecords" ("medical records").

 

                3.             It is found that on or about May 11, 1995, the respondent provided the complainant with redacted copies of his medical records.

 

                4.             By letter of complaint dated May 17, 1995, and filed May 22, 1995, the complainant appealed to this Commission alleging that the respondent failed to comply with his medical records request.

 

                5.             At the hearing on this matter the respondent moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

 

Docket #FIC 95-166                                             Page 2

 

                6.             Specifically, the respondent argues that 17a-548(b) and 52-146d, G.S., et seq., control disclosure of the requested records rather than Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act.

 

                7.             It is found that the requested records consist of communications relating to the diagnosis and treatment of the complainant's mental condition by his treating physicians and clinicians.

 

                8.             Unless a request to inspect or receive copies of a patient's hospital records is made in connection with litigation related to hospitalization, 17a-548(b), G.S., permits the respondent to refuse to disclose to the complainant those portions of his medical record which would be: medically harmful to him; constitute an invasion of another person's privacy; or violates assurances of confidentiality given to a third party.

 

                9.             The complainant argues that the respondent's physicians, clinicians and other personnel are parties to a federal lawsuit involving him.

 

                10.           The complainant alleges that the existence of the federal lawsuit caused the respondent's physicians, clinicians and other personnel to be biased and self-serving in their determinations to only provide him with redacted copies of his medical records.

 

                11.           It is found that the complainant did not allege or prove that the existing federal lawsuit referred to in paragraph 9, above, is related to his hospitalization, or that his request for the medical records was made in connection with any litigation related to his hospitalization.

 

                12.           Therefore, it is concluded that 17a-548(b), G.S., controls disclosure of the subject medical records and regrettably the Commission lacks subject matter jurisdiction over his complaint.

 

                The following order by the Commission is hereby recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above-captioned complaint:

 

                1.             The complaint is hereby dismissed.

 

Approved by Order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of April 24, 1996.

 

                                                                             

                                                Elizabeth A. Leifert

                                                Acting Clerk of the Commission

 

Docket #FIC 95-166                                             Page 3

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-180(c), G.S. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE NAMES OF EACH PARTY AND THE MOST RECENT MAILING ADDRESS, PROVIDED TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION, OF THE PARTIES OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.

 

THE PARTIES TO THIS CONTESTED CASE ARE:

Allan Bruce Hemmings

P.O. Box 70

Middletown, CT 06457

 

Whiting Forensic Institute, State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health

c/o Stephen Vitelli, Esq.

Assistant Attorney General

P.O. Box 120

Hartford, CT 06141-0120

 

                                                                             

                                                Elizabeth A. Leifert

                                                Acting Clerk of the Commission