Oregon Statutes 676.551 – Needlestick injury; blood draw of patient; test results; rules
(1) As used in this section:
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 676.551
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
(a) ‘Health care practitioner’ means a person who provides medical care in an emergency setting and who is:
(A) An emergency medical services provider licensed under ORS Chapter 682;
(B) A physician licensed under ORS Chapter 677; or
(C) A nurse licensed under ORS § 678.010 to 678.410.
(b) ‘Needlestick injury’ means a wound caused by a needle puncturing the skin.
(2) Notwithstanding ORS § 431A.570, a health care practitioner who receives a needlestick injury during the treatment of a patient who is unconscious or otherwise unable to consent may, in compliance with this section, perform a blood draw on the patient for the purpose of testing the blood to determine whether the health care practitioner needs to begin immediate post-exposure prophylactic treatment that may include the administration of medications to the health care practitioner.
(3) A blood draw described in subsection (2) of this section may be performed if:
(a) The patient is not expected to regain consciousness or the ability to consent in the amount of time necessary for the health care practitioner to receive appropriate medical treatment;
(b) There is no other person immediately available who is able to consent on behalf of the patient; and
(c) The health care practitioner will benefit medically from knowing the results of a test described under subsection (2) of this section.
(4) A test performed under this section must be anonymous.
(5) The patient, or patient’s legal guardian, must be informed of the blood draw and the test results.
(6) The results of a test described in subsection (2) of this section may not be:
(a) Made available to law enforcement agencies;
(b) Made available to any person other than the health care practitioner, the individual who performs the test and the patient or the patient’s legal guardian; or
(c) Included in the medical record of the health care practitioner or the patient.
(7) The patient, or the patient’s health insurer, may not be charged for the cost of performing a test under this section.
(8) The Oregon Health Authority may adopt rules to carry out this section. [2019 c.476 § 1]
[2011 c.560 § 2; repealed by 2015 c.829 § 9 and 2017 c.718 § 15]