Question

  The purpose of a subpoena duces tecum is to      A. require a health care worker to testify about a patient's condition. B. command a plaintiff to witness during his or her trial. C. limit the amount of information that can be released from a medical record. D. command a witness to produce documents or things.

Answer 1

 is a court summons ordering the recipient to appear before the court and produce documents or other tangible evidence for use at a hearing or trial.

Answer 2

Answer: D. command a witness to produce documents or things.

Explanation: The term subpoena means a command issued by the court. The command may be a subpoena ad testificandum, which commands a witness to appear and give testimony; a subpoena duces tecum, which commands a witness to produce documents or things; or both.

A subpoena duces tecum is used to compel the release of medical records.