Production of patient records; maintenance of confidentiality

Notwithstanding any privilege of confidentiality recognized by law, no physician or health care institution with which such physician is affiliated shall, acting under any such privilege, fail or refuse to respond to a lawfully issued subpoena of the board for any medical information, testimony, records, data, reports or other documents, tangible items, or information relative to any patient treated by such physician under investigation; provided, however, that the identity of any patient identified in or by such records or information shall be maintained in confidence by the board and shall be deemed a privilege of confidentiality existing in favor of any such patient. For the purpose of maintaining such confidentiality of patient identity, the board shall cause any such medical records or the transcript of any such testimony to be altered so as to prevent the disclosure of the identity of the patient to whom such records or testimony relates.