
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 38USC1753]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
                        PART II--GENERAL BENEFITS
 
    CHAPTER 17--HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE
 
                    SUBCHAPTER VI--SICKLE CELL ANEMIA
 
Sec. 1753. Voluntary participation; confidentiality

    (a) The participation by any person in any program or portion 
thereof under this subchapter shall be wholly voluntary and shall not be 
a prerequisite to eligibility for or receipt of any other service or 
assistance from, or to participation in, any other program under this 
title.
    (b) Patient records prepared or obtained under this subchapter shall 
be held confidential in the same manner and under the same conditions 
prescribed in section 7332 of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 93-82, title I, Sec. 109(a), Aug. 2, 1973, 87 Stat. 187, 
Sec. 653; amended Pub. L. 94-581, title I, Sec. 111(b), Oct. 21, 1976, 
90 Stat. 2852; Pub. L. 102-40, title IV, Sec. 402(d)(1), May 7, 1991, 
105 Stat. 239; renumbered Sec. 1753, Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 5(a), Aug. 6, 
1991, 105 Stat. 406.)


                               Amendments

    1991--Pub. L. 102-83 renumbered section 653 of this title as this 
section.
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102-40 substituted ``7332'' for ``4132''.
    1976--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94-581 substituted ``Patient records 
prepared or obtained under this subchapter shall be held confidential in 
the same manner and under the same conditions prescribed in section 4132 
of this title'' for ``The Administrator shall promulgate rules and 
regulations to insure that all information and patient records prepared 
or obtained under this subchapter shall be held confidential except for 
(1) such information as the patient (or his guardian) requests in 
writing to be released or (2) statistical data compiled without 
reference to patient names or other identifying characteristics''.


                    Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 94-581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 
of Pub. L. 94-581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.
