Cancer reporting
Wis. Stat. § 255.04
in effect(1) Any hospital, as defined under s. 50.33 (2), any physician and any laboratory certified under 42 USC 263a shall report information concerning any person diagnosed as having cancer or a precancerous condition to the department as prescribed by the department under sub. (2).
(2) The department shall prescribe:
(a) The form on which the report under sub. (1) shall be submitted.
(b) The time schedule under which the report under sub. (1) shall be submitted.
(c) The types of cancer and precancerous conditions to be reported under sub. (1).
(3) Any information reported to the department under sub. (1) or (5) which could identify any individual who is the subject of the report or a physician submitting the report shall be confidential and may not be disclosed by the department except to the following:
(a) A central tumor registry in another state if the individual who is the subject of the information resides in the other state.
(b) A national tumor registry recognized by the department.
(c) A researcher who proposes to conduct research, if all of the following conditions are met:
1. The researcher applies in writing to the department for approval of access to individually identifiable information under sub. (1) or (5) that is necessary for performance of the proposed research, and the department approves the application. An application under this subdivision shall include all of the following:
a. A written protocol to perform research.
b. The researcher’s professional qualifications to perform the proposed research.
c. Documentation of approval of the research protocol by an institutional review board of a domestic institution that has a federalwide assurance approved by the office for human research protections of the federal department of health and human services.
d. Any other information requested by the department.
2. The proposed research is for the purpose of studying cancer, cancer prevention, or cancer control.
(4) The report of information under sub. (1) or (5) may not be construed as a violation of any person’s responsibility for maintaining the confidentiality of patient health care records, as defined under s. 146.81 (4).
(5) The department may, to the extent feasible, collect information related to the occupation of cancer patients in order to fulfill the purpose of s. 250.04 (3) (b) 4.
(6) The department may charge a reasonable fee for disclosing information to a researcher under sub. (3) (c).
(7) Information obtained by the department under sub. (1) or (5) or obtained by a person under sub. (3) (c) is not subject to inspection, copying, or receipt under s. 19.35 (1).
(8) No person to whom information is disclosed under sub. (3) (c) may do any of the following:
(a) Use the information for a purpose other than for the performance of research as specified in the application under sub. (3) (c) 1., as approved by the department.
(b) Disclose the information to a person who is not connected with performance of the research.
(c) Reveal in the final research product information that may identify an individual whose information is disclosed under sub. (3) (c).
(9) Whoever violates sub. (8) (a), (b), or (c) is liable to the subject of the information for actual damages and costs, plus exemplary damages of up to $1,000 for a negligent violation and up to $5,000 for an intentional violation.
(10)
(a) Whoever intentionally violates sub. (8) (a), (b), or (c) may be fined not more than $15,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year in the county jail or both.
(b) Any person who violates sub. (8) (a), (b), or (c) may be required to forfeit not more than $100 for each violation. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate offense, except that no day in the period between the date on which a request for a hearing is filed under s. 227.44 and the date of the conclusion of all administrative and judicial proceedings arising out of a decision under this paragraph constitutes a violation.
(c) The department may directly assess forfeitures under par. (b). If the department determines that a forfeiture should be assessed for a particular violation or for failure to correct the violation, the department shall send a notice of assessment to the alleged violator. The notice shall specify the alleged violation of the statute and the amount of the forfeiture assessed and shall inform the alleged violator of the right to contest the assessment under s. 227.44.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/255.04Fetched: 10/7/2026