Indiana Code 16-41-8-5. Medical screening of a person charged with certain offenses
Indiana Code 16-41-8-1Attorney's Note
Under the Indiana Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
For details, see Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3Class Prison Fine Class B misdemeanor up to 180 days up to $1,000 Terms Used In Indiana Code 16-41-8-5
(1) “Bodily fluid” means blood, human waste, or any other bodily fluid.
(2) “Serious disease” means any of the following:
(A) Chancroid.
(B) Chlamydia.
(C) Gonorrhea.
(D) Hepatitis.
(E) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
(F) Lymphogranuloma venereum.
(G) Syphilis.
(H) Tuberculosis.
(3) “Offense involving the transmission of a bodily fluid” means any offense (including a delinquent act that would be a crime if committed by an adult) in which a bodily fluid is transmitted from the defendant to the victim in connection with the commission of the offense.
(c) This subsection applies only to a defendant who has been charged with a potentially disease transmitting offense. At the request of an alleged victim of the offense, the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is less than eighteen (18) years of age, or the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2), the prosecuting attorney shall petition a court to order a defendant charged with the commission of a potentially disease transmitting offense to submit to a screening test to determine whether the defendant is infected with a serious disease. In the petition, the prosecuting attorney must set forth information demonstrating that the defendant has committed a potentially disease transmitting offense. The court shall set the matter for hearing not later than forty-eight (48) hours after the prosecuting attorney files a petition under this subsection. The alleged victim, the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is less than eighteen (18) years of age, and the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2) are entitled to receive notice of the hearing and are entitled to attend the hearing. The defendant and the defendant’s counsel are entitled to receive notice of the hearing and are entitled to attend the hearing. If, following the hearing, the court finds probable cause to believe that the defendant has committed a potentially disease transmitting offense, the court may order the defendant to submit to a screening test for one (1) or more serious diseases. The court shall take actions to ensure the confidentiality of evidence introduced at the hearing.
(d) This subsection applies only to a defendant who has been charged with an offense involving the transmission of a bodily fluid. At the request of an alleged victim of the offense, the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is less than eighteen (18) years of age, or the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2), the prosecuting attorney shall petition a court to order a defendant charged with the commission of an offense involving the transmission of a bodily fluid to submit to a screening test to determine whether the defendant is infected with a serious disease. In the petition, the prosecuting attorney must set forth information demonstrating that:
(1) the defendant has committed an offense; and
(2) a bodily fluid was transmitted from the defendant to the victim in connection with the commission of the offense.
The court shall set the matter for hearing not later than forty-eight (48) hours after the prosecuting attorney files a petition under this subsection. The alleged victim of the offense, the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is less than eighteen (18) years of age, and the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2) are entitled to receive notice of the hearing and are entitled to attend the hearing. The defendant and the defendant’s counsel are entitled to receive notice of the hearing and are entitled to attend the hearing. If, following the hearing, the court finds probable cause to believe that the defendant has committed an offense and that a bodily fluid was transmitted from the defendant to the alleged victim in connection with the commission of the offense, the court may order the defendant to submit to a screening test for one (1) or more serious diseases. The court shall take actions to ensure the confidentiality of evidence introduced at the hearing.
(e) The testimonial privileges applying to communication between a husband and wife and between a health care provider and the health care provider’s patient are not sufficient grounds for not testifying or providing other information at a hearing conducted in accordance with this section.
(f) A health care provider (as defined in IC 16-18-2-163) who discloses information that must be disclosed to comply with this section is immune from civil and criminal liability under Indiana statutes that protect patient privacy and confidentiality.
(g) The results of a screening test conducted under this section shall be kept confidential if the defendant ordered to submit to the screening test under this section has not been convicted of the potentially disease transmitting offense or offense involving the transmission of a bodily fluid with which the defendant is charged. The results may not be made available to any person or public or private agency other than the following:
(1) The defendant and the defendant’s counsel.
(2) The prosecuting attorney.
(3) The department of correction or the penal facility, juvenile detention facility, or secure private facility where the defendant is housed.
(4) The alleged victim or the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is less than eighteen (18) years of age, or the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2), and the alleged victim’s counsel.
The results of a screening test conducted under this section may not be admitted against a defendant in a criminal proceeding or against a child in a juvenile delinquency proceeding.
(h) As soon as practicable after a screening test ordered under this section has been conducted, the alleged victim or the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is less than eighteen (18) years of age, or the parent, guardian, or custodian of an alleged victim who is an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2), and the victim’s counsel shall be notified of the results of the test.
(i) An alleged victim may disclose the results of a screening test to which a defendant is ordered to submit under this section to an individual or organization to protect the health and safety of or to seek compensation for:
(1) the alleged victim;
(2) the alleged victim’s sexual partner; or
(3) the alleged victim’s family.
(j) The court shall order a petition filed and any order entered under this section sealed.
(k) A person that knowingly or intentionally:
(1) receives notification or disclosure of the results of a screening test under this section; and
(2) discloses the results of the screening test in violation of this section;
commits a Class B misdemeanor.
As added by P.L.125-2009, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.94-2010, SEC.5; P.L.158-2013, SEC.242; P.L.149-2016, SEC.49; P.L.65-2016, SEC.8; P.L.112-2020, SEC.30; P.L.190-2021, SEC.3.