Provides that in medical malpractice actions where the plaintiff is not the patient of the defendant and the alleged malpractice is the result of the defendant's treatment or care of a third party, the defendant may make a motion to the court to compel the non-party patient to waive the privilege; provides the court shall grant a waiver of the privilege in certain instances.
Provides that a default judgment against a defendant in a foreclosure action does not need to be vacated in order for the defense of lack of standing or expiration of the statute of limitations to be raised by the defendant.
Establishes a penalty of not less than $1,000 for each intentional destruction, mutilation or significant alteration of a medical record by a party to a medical malpractice action, or by any officer, director, member, employee or agent of such party; establishes a cause of action on behalf of any person injured as the result of such destruction, mutilation or significant alteration; requires disclosure of metadata, audit trail, and log-in information associated with electronic medical records in certain actions.
Provides that in any jurisdiction in which a party is eligible under local law for free legal counsel, if such party has in good faith attempted to secure such counsel and is unable to obtain counsel through no fault of their own, the court shall adjourn the trial of the issue for consecutive periods of not less than fourteen days each until the party is able to secure counsel.
Relates to orders of adjournment in contemplation of dismissal by mandating that judges seal certain records of defendants rather than giving judge's discretion for such an action; limits the total period of adjournment to 90 days.
Relating to the court-ordered administration of psychoactive medication to certain criminal defendants and to the release of those defendants from certain facilities.