PRINTER'S NO. 1550
No. 1342 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY CLYMER, VROON, WOGAN, LEH, JOHNSON, NOYE, ADOLPH,
ROBINSON, BARLEY, BIRMELIN, DEMPSEY, FARMER, TIGUE, DeLUCA,
MELIO, E. Z. TAYLOR, McVERRY, BUNT, GEIST, SERAFINI AND
LANGTRY, APRIL 26, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, APRIL 26, 1989
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of April 23, 1956 (1955 P.L.1510, No.500),
2 entitled, as amended, "An act providing for the prevention
3 and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases
4 including venereal diseases, fixing responsibility for
5 disease prevention and control, requiring reports of
6 diseases, and authorizing treatment of venereal diseases, and
7 providing for premarital and prenatal blood tests; amending,
8 revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
9 repealing certain acts," requiring notice to spouses of
10 persons who have acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
11 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12 hereby enacts as follows:
13 Section 1. The act of April 23, 1956 (1955 P.L.1510,
14 No.500), known as the Disease Prevention and Control Law of
15 1955, is amended by adding a section to read:
16 Section 4.1. Notice to Spouse Concerning Acquired Immune
17 Deficiency Syndrome.--
18 (a) Every physician who treats or examines a person who has
19 acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related
20 complex (ARC), or who has tested positive for AIDS shall
21 directly notify the spouse of the person within forty-eight
1 hours of treatment or examination or receipt of the results of a
2 blood test, that the person has AIDS, AIDS-related complex or
3 that the person tested positive for AIDS. Notification shall be
4 made by the physician, except that the physician may authorize a
5 registered nurse who works under the supervision and control of
6 the physician to make the notification.
7 (b) The director of the laboratory of every hospital which
8 has performed a blood test on a person who has tested positive
9 for AIDS or AIDS-related complex shall directly notify the
10 spouse of the person within forty-eight hours of receipt of the
11 test results, that the person has tested positive for AIDS or
12 AIDS-related complex. Notification shall be made by the director
13 of the laboratory, except that the director may authorize a
14 registered nurse who works under the supervision and control of
15 the director to make the notification.
16 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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