MAISCH v. MILLARD FILLMORE HOSPITALS (1999)

Supreme Court properly denied the motion of Millard Fillmore Hospitals (Hospital), Karen Blackford, Sharon Woodin and Yukio Sonoda, M.D. (defendants) for a protective order prohibiting plaintiffs' use in this malpractice action of a letter report written by the chairperson of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Hospital.   No incident report was made by the Hospital to the Department of Health pursuant to Public Health Law § 2805-l, and the statutes providing confidentiality and prohibiting disclosure of such reports therefore do not apply (see, Public Health Law § 2805-m;  Education Law § 6527[3] ).   Defendants did not establish that the letter report in question was generated in connection with a quality assurance review function pursuant to Education Law § 6527(3) or a malpractice prevention program pursuant to Public Health Law § 2805-j (see, Crea v. Newfane Inter-Community Mem. Hosp., 224 A.D.2d 976, 977, 637 N.Y.S.2d 843;  Zion v. New York Hosp., 184 A.D.2d 441, 585 N.Y.S.2d 393, rearg. granted 183 A.D.2d 386, 590 N.Y.S.2d 188).   Thus, they have not met their burden of establishing that the document is entitled to statutory confidentiality and protection from disclosure (see, Koump v. Smith, 25 N.Y.2d 287, 294-295, 303 N.Y.S.2d 858, 250 N.E.2d 857;   Westhampton Adult Home v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa., 105 A.D.2d 627, 628, 481 N.Y.S.2d 358).

Order unanimously affirmed without costs.

MEMORANDUM: