(a) If, because of an analysis of a specimen submitted under § 33.011, the department reasonably suspects that a newborn child may have phenylketonuria, another heritable disease, hypothyroidism, or another disorder for which the screening tests are required, the department shall notify the person who submits the specimen that the results are abnormal and provide the test results to that person. The department may notify one or more of the following that the results of the analysis are abnormal and recommend further testing when necessary:
(1) the physician attending the newborn child or the physician’s designee;
(2) the person attending the delivery of the newborn child that was not attended by a physician;
(3) the parents of the newborn child;
(4) the health authority of the jurisdiction in which the newborn child was born or in which the child resides, if known; or
(5) physicians who are cooperating pediatric specialists for the program.
(b) If a screening test indicates that a newborn child is at high risk, the department shall recommend that the child be placed under the medical care of a licensed physician for diagnosis and provide the name of a consultant pediatric specialist in the child’s geographic area.

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Terms Used In Texas Health and Safety Code 33.014

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(c) The department, the health authority, and the consulting pediatric specialist may follow up a positive test with the attending physician or with a parent of the newborn child if the child was not attended by a physician at birth.