Immunity

The law provides immunity for physicians from civil and criminal liability, for reports of known or suspected instances of abuse. Physicians (or their agents) are also immune from liability for taking or causing to be taken photographs of the suspected victim of child abuse without parental consent, and for forwarding the photographs with the mandated report. In addition, in the event that a person required to report is required to defend a legal action based on the making of the report and prevails, the state will reimburse the individual’s reasonable attorney’s fees (not to exceed an hourly rate greater than the rate charged by the attorney general at the time the award is made, up to a maximum of $50,000).