Summary
In Tanner v. Dr. A. (228 AD2d 238), we unanimously affirmed an order granting OPMC's application, pursuant to Public Health Law § 230 (10) (o), to enforce the Director's order for a CMR of a physician's patient records and office records.
Summary of this case from Michaelis v. GrazianoOpinion
June 11, 1996
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Carol Arber, J.).
The motion court properly exercised its discretion to review the material offered by petitioner in support of the subpoena in camera and without disclosure to respondent ( see, Matter of Levin v. Murawski, 59 N.Y.2d 35, 42, n 4; Matter of Levin v Guest, 112 A.D.2d 830, affd 67 N.Y.2d 629, cert denied 476 U.S. 1171; Atkins v. Guest, 201 A.D.2d 411; Halper v. State Bd. for Professional Med. Conduct, 151 A.D.2d 643). We do not construe the requirement that an application such as this be "in writing, on notice to the licensee" (Public Health Law § 230 [ o]), or the right given the licensee to submit comments to the investigation committee (Public Health Law § 230 [a] [iii]), as superseding of the statute and requiring disclosure of materials submitted to the court in camera. Matter of McBarnette v. Sobol ( 83 N.Y.2d 333), where the licensee sought information for the purpose of cross-examining complainants who had already testified at a hearing and were known to the licensee, is distinguishable. Nor can confidentiality be waived by the complainant ( Atkins v. Guest, supra, at 412). The petition sufficiently established a reasonable basis for conducting a CMR and the relevancy of the record sought. We have reviewed respondent-appellant's remaining contentions and find them to be without merit.
Concur — Sullivan, J.P., Ellerin, Rubin, Kupferman and Nardelli, JJ.