Sec. 17013.

(1) Beginning November 6, 1986, a physician who is administering the primary treatment for breast cancer to a patient who has been diagnosed as having breast cancer shall inform the patient, orally and in writing, about alternative methods of treatment of the cancer, including surgical, radiological, or chemotherapeutic treatments, or any other generally accepted medical treatment. The physician also shall inform the patient about the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of each method of treatment and about the procedures involved in each method of treatment.

(2) If a patient receives a standardized written summary or brochure, as described in this subsection or subsection (3), the physician shall be in full compliance with this section, including both the written and oral requirements. The standardized written summary:

(a) Shall be developed by the department of public health in cooperation with the chronic disease advisory committee.

(b) Shall be drafted in nontechnical terms that the patient can understand.

(c) Shall inform the patient about alternative methods of treatment of breast cancer, including surgical, radiological, or chemotherapeutic treatments, or any other generally accepted medical treatment.

(d) Shall inform the patient about the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of each method of treatment and about the procedures involved in each method of treatment.

(e) The standardized written summary or a brochure described in subsection (3), or both, shall be made available to physicians through the Michigan board of medicine and the Michigan board of osteopathic medicine and surgery. The Michigan board of medicine and the Michigan board of osteopathic medicine and surgery shall notify in writing all physicians subject to this section of the requirements of this section and the availability of the standardized written summary by October 16, 1986.

(3) For purposes of subsection (2), a physician may use a brochure which contains information substantially similar to that contained in the standardized written summary developed by the department of public health and which is approved by the department of public health.

(4) The department of public health, after consultation with appropriate professional organizations, shall develop the standardized written summary required by subsection (2) by October 6, 1986.

(5) A form, signed by the patient, indicating that the patient has been given a copy of the brochure or the standardized written summary shall be included in the patient's medical record.

(6) A physician's duty to inform a patient under this section does not require disclosure of information beyond what a reasonably well-qualified physician licensed under this article would know.

(7) A patient who signs a form pursuant to subsection (5) shall be barred from subsequently bringing a civil action against the physician providing the summary or brochure described in subsection (2) and (3) based on failure to obtain informed consent, but only in regard to information pertaining to alternative forms of treatment of breast cancer, and the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of each method.

History: Add. 1986, Act 195, Imd. Eff. July 8, 1986 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 15, Imd. Eff. May 15, 1989 Popular Name: Act 368