3808

VETOES

Family Law - Examination or Treatment of Abused Children

FOR the purpose of restoring to the law a reference to the duty
of physicians to examine and treat certain children brought
to the physician by a police officer for the purposes of a
certain determination; and making this Act an emergency
measure.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Family Law
Section 5-910(b)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1984 Volume)

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

Article - Family Law

5-910.

(b) Any physician who is licensed or authorized to practice
medicine in this State shall examine or treat any child, with or
without the consent of the child's parent, guardian, or
custodian, to determine the nature and extent of any injury or
abuse to the child if the child is brought to the physician:

(1)  in accordance with a court order; [or]

(2)  BY A POLICE OFFICER WHO STATES THAT THE POLICE
OFFICER BELIEVES THE CHILD IS AN ABUSED CHILD; OR

[(2)] (3) by a representative of a local department
who states that the representative believes the child is an
abused child.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is
hereby declared to be an emergency measure and necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public health and safety and having
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of
all the members elected to each of the two Houses of the General
Assembly, the same shall take effect from the date of its
passage.

The Honorable Melvin A. Steinberg
President of the Senate

May 28, 1985