Bill > A06954

This bill establishes new privacy protections for patients in healthcare facilities by requiring express written consent before their recognizable image or speech can be broadcast or transmitted through various media platforms. The legislation defines "health care facility" broadly to include hospitals, clinics, ambulatory care centers, and ambulance services, and specifies that patients must provide separate written consent for broadcasting their medical treatment images. There are some exceptions to this requirement, such as using images for advancing healthcare treatment, quality assurance programs, healthcare personnel education, or necessary security purposes. The bill also clarifies that news media and journalists are exempt from these restrictions, meaning they can still capture and broadcast medical scenes without patient consent. Patients (or their legal representatives) who have their privacy violated can now bring legal action to recover damages, and courts may award attorney's fees to successful plaintiffs. The law aims to protect patient dignity and privacy by giving individuals control over the visual and audio recording of their medical treatment, ensuring that their personal medical experiences are not shared without their explicit permission.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6954