Sources of information protected

(a) Any person, public or private medical facility, or social or educational agency, may provide information, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, biological specimens, or other data or relevant material relating to individuals with cancer or pre-cancerous conditions to the Hawaii Tumor Registry. This information may be used in the course of any cancer research study approved by the cancer commission of the Hawaii Medical Association and the appropriate federally authorized human subjects protection board. (b) Hospitals, skilled nursing homes, intermediate care homes, free-standing radiation oncology facilities, and other treatment or pathology facilities shall submit a report of any person admitted with or diagnosed as having cancer to the Hawaii Tumor Registry or participating hospital registry according to a format approved by the cancer commission of the Hawaii Medical Association. Physicians who diagnose or treat a patient for cancer shall also submit a report to the Hawaii Tumor Registry or participating hospital registry unless the patient has previously been admitted or treated at a hospital, skilled nursing home, intermediate care home, or free-standing radiation oncology facility for that particular cancer. The Hawaii Tumor Registry staff or their representative or hospital-based registry staff may assist the hospitals, institutions, treatment or pathology facilities, and physician offices in the preparation of the reports. (c) No liability of any kind or character for damages or other relief shall arise or be enforced against any person or organization by reason of having provided the information or material, or by reason of having released or published the findings, conclusions, and summaries of the researchers to advance medical research and medical education.