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Decisions of Interest

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
August 02, 2014

Third-Party Statements in Health Care Records Held Admissible in Neglect Proceeding

Statements made to a physician, social worker or mental health care provider while seeking help for a medical condition are admissible hearsay in the context of a child neglect proceeding, Judge Robert Hettleman has held. Matter of A.M., NN-13027-31/13.

The Administration for Children' s Services (ACS) filed a neglect proceeding against Gene M., a man with a long history of mental illness, drug abuse and domestic violence. During a hearing, ACS offered Judge Hettleman plaintiff Gene M.'s in-patient mental health treatment records. Although such records are often admitted without argument in child neglect proceedings, these records contained numerous comments made by third parties, including Gene M.'s wife, his other health care providers and his parents.

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