Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73
§1753 Voluntary participation; confidentiality
Title 38 › Part PART II— - GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 17— - HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VI— - SICKLE CELL ANEMIA › § 1753
Summary
Participation in these programs is entirely voluntary and is not required to get any other service, help, or to join other programs under this law. Patient records from these programs must be kept private and protected under the same rules as section 7332.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §1753
Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The participation by any person in any program or portion thereof under this subchapter shall be wholly voluntary and shall not be a prerequisite to eligibility for or receipt of any other service or assistance from, or to participation in, any other program under this title.
(b)Patient records prepared or obtained under this subchapter shall be held confidential in the same manner and under the same conditions prescribed in section 7332 of this title.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 653 of this title as this section. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–40 substituted “7332” for “4132”. 1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–581 substituted “Patient records prepared or obtained under this subchapter shall be held confidential in the same manner and under the same conditions prescribed in section 4132 of this title” for “The Administrator shall promulgate
Rules and Regulations
to insure that all information and patient records prepared or obtained under this subchapter shall be held confidential except for (1) such information as the patient (or his guardian) requests in writing to be released or (2) statistical data compiled without reference to patient names or other identifying characteristics”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective Sept. 1, 1973, see section 501 of Pub. L. 93–82, set out as an
Effective Date
of 1973 Amendment note under section 1701 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 1753
Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73