HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                      2391

CHAPTER 428

(House Bill 1227)

AN ACT concerning

Charles County - Free Standing Clinics

FOR the purpose of establishing standards for the operation,
staffing, facilities, and equipment of free standing medical

clinics in Charles County; and establishing standards

governing the advertisement and signs for free-standing
clinics in Charles County.

FOR the purpose of allowing the County Commissioners of Charles
County to adopt regulations to govern free standing clinics
in Charles County; defining free standing clinic; providing
for certain duties of the health officer for Charles County;
providing for penalty and enforcement procedures; and
generally relating to free standing clinics in Charles
County.

BY adding to

The Public Local Laws of Charles County

Section 334A and the new title "Medical Treatment and

Facilities"
Article 9 - Public Local Laws of Maryland
(1969 Edition and 1977 Supplement, as amended)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 9 - Charles County

MEDICAL TREATMENT AND FACILITIES

334A.

(A) IN THIS SECTION, "FREE STANDING CLINIC" MEANS A MEDICAL
FACILITY THAT OFFERS MEDICAL TREATMENT OF A CONVENIENCE NATURE
WHICH IS PHYSICALLY SEPARATE FROM A HOSPITAL OR HOSPITAL GROUNDS.

(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO ALL "FREE STANDING CLINICS" IN
CHARLES COUNTY.

(C) UNLESS THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (D) OF
THIS SECTION ARE MET, A FREE STANDING CLINIC MAY NOT USE IN ITS
TITLE OR IN ANY ADVERTISEMENT OF ITS SERVICES WORDS WHICH MAY
LEAD THE PUBLIC TO BELIEVE THE CLINIC CAN PROVIDED EMERGENCY

MEDICAL TREATMENT. THIS PROHIBITION INCLUDES THE USE OF THE

WORDS "EMERGENCY", "URGENT", OR OTHER WORDS CLEARLY INDICATING
THE AVAILABILITY OF MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR IMMEDIATELY LIFE
THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS.