(a) Before a physician treats any patient for any form of breast cancer, the physician shall educate the patient of alternative methods of treatment that may be medically practicable. (b) The Maryland Department of Health shall: (1) Provide a standardized written summary in layman's language that: (i) Lists all effective methods of treatment for breast cancer that may be medically practicable including surgical, radiological, chemotherapeutic, and combinations of those treatments; and (ii) Describes the advantages, disadvantages, risks, and procedures associated with each method of treatment listed; (2) Update the standardized written summary annually; and (3) Distribute the standardized written summary to each hospital, clinic, and physician's office and other facility that performs treatments of breast cancer. (c) A physician satisfies the requirements of subsection (a) of this section if: (1) The physician provides a breast cancer patient with the standardized written summary described in subsection (b) of this section in language that the patient understands; (2) The patient receives the standardized written summary within 5 days of the start of the treatment for breast cancer; and (3) The patient signs a statement provided by the Maryland Department of Health acknowledging the receipt of the standardized written summary. (d) This section does not apply if the attending physician certifies that: (1) Treatment for breast cancer occurred within 5 days of the physician informing the patient of the diagnosis; and (2) Treatment within this period of time was necessary to save the life of the patient. (e) A physician who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section is subject to the provisions of § 14-404(a)(27) of the Health Occupations Article.
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