Cancer Control Act

Del. Code tit. 16, ch. 32
in effect

Del. Code tit. 16, § 3202 Purpose.

The intent of the General Assembly is to require the establishment and maintenance of a cancer registry for the State. This responsibility is delegated to the Department of Health and Social Services, along with the authority to exercise certain powers to implement this requirement. To ensure an accurate and continuing source of data concerning cancer and certain specified tumors of a benign nature, the General Assembly by this chapter requires certain health care practitioners and all hospitals, clinical laboratories and cancer treatment centers within the State to make available to the Department of Health and Social Services information contained in the medical records of patients who have cancer or tumors of a benign nature. It is intended that the product of these efforts will be a central data bank of accurate, precise and current information regarding the subject diseases.

Del. Code tit. 16, § 3203 Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. (1) “Benign tumor” means any nonmalignant neoplasm, regardless of the tissue of origin, that appears on the American College of Surgeons most recently published annual list of reportable cancers and benign tumors. (2) “Cancer” means any malignant neoplasm, regardless of the tissue of origin, that appears on the American College of Surgeons most recently published annual list of reportable cancers and benign tumors. (3) “Department” means the State of Delaware Department of Health and Social Services.

Del. Code tit. 16, § 3204 Cancer registry.

The Department shall adopt, promulgate, amend and repeal any rules and regulations that are consistent with law relative to this chapter and necessary to achieve the purpose and requirements of this chapter. These rules and regulations shall include provisions for: (1) The establishment and maintenance of an up-to-date registry that shall document every occurrence of cancer and of benign tumor in this State; (2) The establishment of a procedure for reporting to the Department, within 180 days of initial diagnosis or treatment, every occurrence of cancer and of benign tumor in this State. Such procedure shall include the reporting of specified information that the Department deems necessary and appropriate for the recognition, prevention, control or cure of cancer and benign tumors, and shall minimally include the reporting requirements of the National Cancer Data Base established by the American College of Surgeons, along with information regarding the patient’s length of residency in Delaware, primary residential address in Delaware and the location and nature of the patient’s primary past employment. Those required to report to the Department occurrences of cancer and benign tumors shall include: a. Any physician, surgeon, dentist, podiatrist or other health-care practitioner who diagnoses or provides treatment for cancer or benign tumors; b. The designated representative of any hospital, dispensary, asylum or other similar public or private institution that diagnoses or provides treatment for cancer or benign tumors; and c. The designated representative of any laboratory that examines tissue specimens which disclose the existence of cancer or benign tumor; (3) The establishment of a procedure for the publication and distribution of forms, instructions and notices required by this chapter or necessary to accomplish the purpose of this chapter; and (4) The establishment of a procedure to obtain follow-up information from those required to report occurrences of cancer and benign tumors pursuant to this chapter. Any follow-up information deemed necessary by the Department shall be submitted to the Department at least 1 time each year by those required to report occurrences of cancer and benign tumors. This chapter and any rules or regulations issued pursuant to this chapter shall not apply to any person or private institution that, as an exercise of religious freedom, treats the sick or suffering by spiritual means through prayer alone.

Del. Code tit. 16, § 3205 Confidentiality of reports.

(a) Any report of an occurrence of cancer or benign tumor made pursuant to this chapter shall not be divulged nor made public in any way that might tend to disclose the identity of the person to whom it relates. However, patient-identifying information may be exchanged among cancer control agencies as authorized by the Department and upon receipt by the Department of satisfactory assurances by those agencies of the preservation of the confidentiality of such information. (b) No individual or organization providing information to the Department in accordance with this chapter shall be deemed to be, or held liable for, divulging confidential information.

Del. Code tit. 16, § 3206 Compulsion prohibited.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to compel any individual to submit to any medical or public health examination, treatment or supervision.

Del. Code tit. 16, § 3207 Violations.

Any person or entity who violates any provision of this chapter shall be fined $100 for each violation.

Del. Code tit. 16, § 3208 Audit and Abstraction of records by department.

(a) Upon request of a person or organization required to report by § 3204 of this title, the Department may audit records and abstract information that is required to be reported. (b) Any person or organization failing to report as required by this chapter shall permit the Department to audit records and abstract information that is required to be reported. (c) The Department may charge a fee to be established by regulation to persons and organizations subjected to an audit pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section. Said person or organization shall reimburse the Department.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title16/c032/index.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026

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