HARRY HUGHES, Governor

859

(1)  THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN SHALL TEST TO
DETERMINE IF GONOCOCCAL OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM IS THE CAUSE
OF THE INFLAMMATION OR SWELLING'; OR

(2)  IF THERE IS NO ATTENDING PHYSICIAN, ANY
OTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS CARE OF THE CHILD SHALL REPORT THE
CONDITION IMMEDIATELY TO A PHYSICIAN OR TO THE HEALTH
OFFICER FOR THE COUNTY WHERE THE CHILD IS LOCATED, SO THAT
TESTING MAY BE DONE.

(C)  REPORT BY PHYSICIAN.

WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER A PHYSICIAN KNOWS THAT A CHILD
UNDER THE PHYSICIAN'S CARE HAS GONOCOCCAL OPHTHALMIA
NEONATORUM, THE PHYSICIAN SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE
DEPARTMENT.

(D)  TREATMENT RESTRICTED.

AN INDIVIDUAL OTHER THAN A PHYSICIAN MAY NOT TREAT THE
INFLAMMATION OR SWELLING.

(E)  PENALTIES.

A PERSON WHO VIOLATES ANY PROVISION OF SUBSECTIONS
(B)(2) OR (D) OF THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND
ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $100 OR
IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 6 MONTHS. OR BOTH.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived
without substantive change from former Article
27, § 273 and former Article 43, § 38B.

Throughout this section, the word "child" is
substituted for the words "infant" and "newborn
child", for clarity and consistency.

In subsection (a) of this section, the term
"nurse midwife" is substituted for the word
"midwife" to conform to the terminology used in
Title 7 of the Health Occupations Article.

In subsection (b) of this section, the references
to a test being done are added to state expressly
that which only was implied in former Article 43,
§ 38B(a). This addition is based on the
prohibition in former Article 27, § 273 against
"the application of any remedy" by a person other
than a physician.

Also in subsection (b) of this section, the
former definition of "inflammation of the eyes of
the newborn" and the descriptions such as
"unusual redness" and "apart from or together
with any natural discharge" are deleted as