C.A. v. Eric Bentolila, M.D. (071702)

In 2004, the Legislature enacted the Patient Safety Act to reduce the incidence of medical errors that may endanger patients in health care facilities. N.J.S.A. 26:2H-12.23 to -12.25. The Act imposed new requirements for evaluating and reporting of adverse events, and created a statutory privilege shielding specific commu*452nications from discovery in litigation. N.J.S.A. 26:2H-12.25(b), (c), (e), (g). The Act sought to encourage health care workers to candidly disclose their observations and concerns, and promote self-critical evaluation by professional and administrative staff.

The…