(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, notwithstanding any law on privileged communications, each health practitioner, police officer, or human service worker who contacts, examines, attends, or treats an alleged vulnerable adult, and who has reason to believe that the alleged vulnerable adult has been subjected to abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation shall: (i) notify the local department; and (ii) if acting as a staff member of a hospital or public health agency, immediately notify and give all the information required by this section to the head of the institution or the designee of the head. (2) An ombudsman, as defined in § 10-901 of the Human Services Article, shall comply with 42 U.S.C. § 3058g(d)(2) and may not disclose the identity of a resident or complainant except as authorized under 42 U.S.C. § 3058g(d)(2). (b) An individual who is required to make a report under subsection (a) of this section shall make the report as soon as possible by telephone, by direct communication, or in writing to the local department or by calling the statewide reporting hotline. (c) Any individual other than a health practitioner, human service worker, or police officer who has reason to believe that an alleged vulnerable adult has been subjected to abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation may file with the local department an oral or written report of the suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation. (d) Insofar as is reasonably possible, an individual who makes a report under this section shall include in the report the following information: (1) the name, age, and home address of the alleged vulnerable adult; (2) the name and home address of the person responsible for the care of the alleged vulnerable adult; (3) the whereabouts of the alleged vulnerable adult; (4) the nature of the alleged vulnerable adult's incapacity; (5) the nature and extent of the abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation of the alleged vulnerable adult, including evidence or information available to the reporter concerning previous injury possibly resulting from abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation; and (6) any other information that would help to determine: (i) the cause of the suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation; and (ii) the identity of any individual responsible for the abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation.
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