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Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.492a - Placing misleading or inaccurate information in medical records or charts; alteration or destruction of medical records or charts; penalties

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Placing misleading or inaccurate information in medical records or charts; alteration or destruction of medical records or charts; penalties; applicability of subsections (1) and (2); basis for civil action for damages not created

 

Michigan makes it a criminal offense for a health care provider or individual, who knows information is misleading or inaccurate, to intentionally or recklessly place that information into a patient’s medical record or chart.  The penalties for such actions are:

 

a) A health care provider who intentionally violates this section is guilty of a felony;

b) A health care provider who recklessly violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, which is punishable by not more than one year in prison, a fine of $1,000, or both. 

c) A person who is not a health care provider who intentionally violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, which is punishable by not more than one year in prison, a fine of $1,000, or both. 

d) A person who is not a health care provider who recklessly violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. 

 

Michigan also makes it a felony for a health care provider to intentionally destroy or alter a patient’s medical record or chart in order to conceal the provider’s responsibility for the patient’s injury or death.  The law makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by not more than one year in prison, a fine of $1,000, or both.  Michigan makes an exception for the destruction of a patient’s medical record if the information contained in the record is captured by electronic means.  There is also an exception from criminal penalties if information that is replaced in a patient’s medical record is to correct an error.  However, it must be clearly disclosed in the record that the correction was performed and the previous entries are still visible. 


Current as of June 2015