17. (1) A notifiable incident disclosure meeting shall, subject to subsection (2), be held in person with the patient or relevant person (or both of them).

(2) A patient or a relevant person (or both of them) may, when contacted by a health services provider pursuant to section 18 to make arrangements to meet with it for the purpose of making an open disclosure, request the provider that the proposed meeting be held other than in person.

(3) A request under subsection (2) may be made orally.

(4) Where a request under subsection (2) is made orally, the health services provider shall make a record of the request in writing and maintain it with the records referred to in section 25.