The case involved a Maryland law that allows an oversight board to require physicians to immediately turn over certain medical files regardless of patient consent or face fines and other disciplinary action.
Maryland authorities had demanded the medical records of two patients to investigate allegations that Harold Eist, MD, was overmedicating the patients. Dr. Eist, a psychiatrist, refused to provide the medical files until he received the patients’ consent. When the patients consented and Dr. Eist produced the records 11 months later, he still received a reprimand and fine of $5,000.
The sanction on Dr. Eist was reversed in a state appeals court but reinstated by Maryland’s highest court, which ruled that the Maryland law does not permit a physician to delay handing over records.
The Supreme Court justices did not explain their decision to not hear the case.
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