§ 23-24.5-15 - Duties of physicians regarding asbestos related disease.
SECTION 23-24.5-15
§ 23-24.5-15 Duties of physiciansregarding asbestos related disease. – (a) Any physician or employee of a licensed medical facility making thediagnosis of mesothelioma, asbestosis, or any illness or death suspected asbeing due to asbestos exposure must be reported to the director of healthwithin six (6) months of the diagnosis.
(b) The physician or licensed medical facility involved shallalso inform the patient or patient's next-of-kin in a dated letter by certifiedmail return receipt requested of the suspected role of asbestos as it relatesto the patient's condition.
(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, thestatute of limitations for any personal injury or property damage relating toasbestos or asbestiform materials for any cause of action now pending or whichmay be pending in the future shall not begin to run until notice to the patientor the patient's next-of-kin is filed as set forth in subsection (b), or in thecase of pending matters when a physician in writing had notified the patient ornext-of-kin.