Title 23
Health and Safety

Chapter 17.8
Abuse in Healthcare Facilities

R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.8-3.1

§ 23-17.8-3.1. Physician’s, certified registered nurse practitioner’s, and physician assistant’s report of examination — Duty of facility.

Whenever a facility shall receive a report by a person other than a physician or a certified registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant that a patient or resident of the facility has been harmed as a result of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment, the facility shall have the patient examined by a licensed physician or a certified registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant. It shall be mandatory for the physician or certified registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant to make a preliminary report of their findings to the department of health for a healthcare facility, or to the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals for a community residence for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities and to the facility within forty-eight (48) hours after the examination, and a written report within five (5) days after the examination.

History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 563, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 235, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 423, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 386, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 317, § 4; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 51; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 51; P.L. 2002, ch. 405, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 254, § 2; P.L. 2012, ch. 264, § 2; P.L. 2023, ch. 61, § 2, effective June 14, 2023; P.L. 2023, ch. 62, § 2, effective June 14, 2023.