Connecticut General Statutes 19a-593 – Testing of pregnant women and newborns. Notification and documentation requirements. Report to mother
(a) Each health care provider giving prenatal care to pregnant women in this state shall inform her, or ascertain from the woman’s medical record that such information has already been provided to her, that HIV testing is a part of routine prenatal care and shall inform her of the health benefits to herself and her newborn of being tested for HIV infection. Such information shall be conveyed along with the counseling required by section 19a-582. The health care provider shall inform the patient that HIV-related information is confidential pursuant to section 19a-583. If the patient provides informed consent to an HIV-related test consistent with section 19a-582, the health care provider responsible for HIV counseling under this section shall perform or arrange to have performed an HIV-related test and document the test result in the medical record.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 19a-593
- AIDS: means acquired immune deficiency syndrome, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control of the United States Public Health Service. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-581
- Health care provider: means any physician, physician assistant, dentist, nurse, provider of services for persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with intellectual disability or other person involved in providing medical, nursing, counseling, or other health care, substance abuse or mental health service, including such services associated with, or under contract to, a health maintenance organization or medical services plan. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-581
- HIV infection: means infection with the human immunodeficiency virus or any other related virus identified as a probable causative agent of AIDS. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-581
- HIV-related test: means any laboratory test or series of tests for any virus, antibody, antigen or etiologic agent whatsoever thought to cause or indicate the presence of HIV infection. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-581
(b) If, during the current pregnancy, an HIV-related test has not been documented in the patient’s medical record at admission for delivery of the baby, then the health care provider responsible for the patient’s care shall inform the pregnant woman as required under subsection (a) of this section and shall also inform her of the health benefits to herself and her newborn of being tested for HIV infection either before delivery or within twenty-four hours after delivery and, in the absence of specific written objection, shall cause such test to be administered.
(c) Any health care provider who administers an HIV-related test to a newborn under the provisions of this section, section 19a-55 or section 19a-90, shall report the results of such test to the mother of such newborn before the mother leaves the hospital or not later than forty-eight hours after the birth of such newborn, whichever is sooner. Such provider shall (1) refer any woman whose newborn tests positive for HIV infection to a human immunodeficiency virus case manager and an appropriate health care provider, and (2) provide such woman with a list of support services for persons with HIV infection and AIDS.