Opinion ID: 1991404
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: information protected

Text: The parties also disagree about the types of information protected by the privilege. [3] Our analysis begins with the language of the statutes. Section 31-08-01, N.D.C.C., protects the records and proceedings of medical review committees. The relevant portions of Section 23-01-02.1, N.D.C.C., say: Any information, data, reports, or records made available to a ... committee ... are confidential and may be used by such committees and the members thereof only in the exercise of the proper functions of the committees. The proceedings and records of such a committee are not subject to subpoena or discovery or introduction into evidence in any civil action arising out of any matter which is the subject of consideration by the committee. Trinity asserts that, under Section 23-01-02.1, all information, data, reports, or records made available to protected committees are privileged. Keplin asserts the privilege is limited to proceedings and records of protected committees. Trinity's argument is flawed by its misreading of Section 23-01-02.1. The first sentence of the statute provides that [a]ny information, data, reports, or records made available to a covered committee are confidential. The second sentence specifies that proceedings and records of such a committee are not subject to subpoena or discovery or introduction into evidence. Trinity has confused confidentiality with privilege. It is the second sentence which creates the privilege. The first sentence merely provides that information made available to the committee is confidential, and may be used by such committees and the members thereof only in the exercise of the proper functions of the committees. That provision is directed to those who acquire information in the course of serving on the committee, and directs that they are not free to disseminate such information to third persons or the public. Confidentiality, however, is not synonymous with privilege: Confidentiality and privilege are two compatible, yet distinct, concepts. Privilege addresses a person's right not to have another testify as to certain matters as part of a judicial process, while confidentiality addresses the obligation to refrain from disclosing information to third parties other than as part of legal process. Scheutzow & Gillis, supra, 7 J.L. & Health at 192. We conclude that the privilege under Sections 23-01-02.1 and 31-08-01 applies only to the proceedings and records of covered committees. Trinity argues that, even if the privilege applies only to proceedings and records, information provided to the committee and data collected by departments and hospital employees for review by the committee are included within proceedings and records of the committee. The statute, however, clearly distinguishes between information, data, reports, or records made available to the committee, and the proceedings and records of the committee. The former are merely confidential; the latter are privileged. The legislature has expressed its intent that the two categories of information be treated differently by separating them in the statute. If the legislature had intended that all information provided to the committee be privileged, it would have expressly said so. It did not. The reading urged by Trinity would render the legislature's choice of language superfluous. Statutes must be read to give effect to all of their provisions, so that no part of the statute is inoperative or superfluous. Section 1-02-38(2), N.D.C.C.; Regstad v. Steffes, 448 N.W.2d 203, 206 (N.D. 1989); 2A Sutherland, Statutory Construction § 46.06 (5th ed.1992). By employing the phrase proceedings and records of the committee in the second sentence, the legislature clearly meant something different than the phrase it used in the first sentence, information, data and reports made available to the committee. We construe the phrase proceedings and records of the committee to be limited to the formal proceedings before the committee, and the internal records generated by the committee. Specifically, this would include testimony given to the committee at a hearing, the deliberations and discussions among committee members, and the minutes of committee meetings. It does not include other information or data provided to the committee or collected for the committee's review by hospital departments or employees. It is the internal functioning of the committee which is protected. We conclude that only the proceedings and records of covered committees are protected by the statutory privilege.