Admitting Medical Records Into Evidence
Senate Bill 2823 went into effect on July 1, 2006. The Bill amends T.C.A. Title 24, Chapter 7, Part 1 by adding a new section which sets out a procedure for introducing medical records into evidence. The statute provides that, when duly certified by their custodian, physician, physical therapist or chiropractor, medical records need not be identified at trial and may be used in any manner which records identified at trial could be used. The statute requires giving the opposing party notice of the intent to introduce the records into evidence no later than 60 days before the trial. This procedure seems to be akin to the procedure established by T.R.E. 902(11) for introducing business records into evidence without the need to call the custodian as a witness at trial.