Illinois Code § 38

§ 38.

Subpoena; oaths. (a) The Medical Board or Department has power to subpoena and bring before it any person in this State and to take testimony either orally or by deposition, or both, with the same fees and mileage and in the same manner as is prescribed by law for judicial procedure in civil cases. (b) The Medical Board or Department, upon a determination that probable cause exists that a violation of one or more of the grounds for discipline listed in Section 22 has occurred or is occurring, may subpoena the medical and hospital records of individual patients of physicians licensed under this Act, provided, that prior to the submission of such records to the Medical Board, all information indicating the identity of the patient shall be removed and deleted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Medical Board and Department shall possess the power to subpoena copies of hospital or medical records in mandatory report cases under Section 23 alleging death or permanent bodily injury when consent to obtain records is not provided by a patient or legal representative. Prior to submission of the records to the Medical Board, all information indicating the identity of the patient shall be removed and deleted. All medical records and other information received pursuant to subpoena shall be confidential and shall be afforded the same status as is proved information concerning medical studies in Part 21 of Article VIII of the Code of Civil Procedure. The use of such records shall be restricted to members of the Medical Board, the medical coordinators, and appropriate staff of the Department designated by the Medical Board for the purpose of determining the existence of one or more grounds for discipline of the physician as provided for by Section 22 of this Act. Any such review of individual patients' records shall be conducted by the Medical Board in strict confidentiality, provided that such patient records shall be admissible in a disciplinary hearing, before the Medical Board, when necessary to substantiate the grounds for discipline alleged against the physician licensed under this Act, and provided further, that nothing herein shall be deemed to supersede the provisions of Part 21 of Article VIII of the Code of Civil Procedure, to the extent applicable. (c) The Secretary, hearing officer, and any member of the Medical Board each have power to administer oaths at any hearing which the Medical Board or Department is authorized by law to conduct. (d) The Medical Board, upon a determination that probable cause exists that a violation of one or more of the grounds for discipline listed in Section 22 has occurred or is occurring on the business premises of a physician licensed under this Act, may issue an order authorizing an appropriately qualified investigator employed by the Department to enter upon the business premises with due consideration for patient care of the subject of the investigation so as to inspect the physical premises and equipment and furnishings therein. No such order shall include the right of inspection of business, medical, or personnel records located on the premises. For purposes of this Section, "business premises" is defined as the office or offices where the physician conducts the practice of medicine. Any such order shall expire and become void five business days after its issuance by the Medical Board. The execution of any such order shall be valid only during the normal business hours of the facility or office to be inspected. (Source: P.A. 101-316, eff. 8-9-19; 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)