Ch. 104                                   1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 104
(Senate Bill 107)

AN ACT concerning

Control of Communicable Tuberculosis - Treatment of Infected Persons

FOR the purpose of providing the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene with certain
authority provided to a health officer relating to the control of tuberculosis; and
generally relating to the control of tuberculosis.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health - General
Section 18-324
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1994 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

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

Article - Health - General

18-324.

(a)     [A] THE SECRETARY OR A health officer may have an individual examined,
if THE SECRETARY OR the health officer knows or is notified in writing by a physician
that the individual is suspected of having tuberculosis.

(b)     (1) If, after the examination, THE SECRETARY OR the health officer finds
that the individual has tuberculosis and that the condition of the individual endangers, or
may endanger, the public health of the community, THE SECRETARY OR the health
officer may order the individual to receive appropriate medical care.

(2)     If the individual fails to comply with the order, THE SECRETARY OR the
health officer may order the individual to be placed in any of the following types of
medical quarantine in order to protect the public health:

(i) Medical isolation at home;

(ii) Domiciliary care, nursing home care, or hospital care; or

(iii) Other medically appropriate living arrangement.

(3)     The order of THE SECRETARY OR the health officer may also contain
such other conditions as the Secretary or the health officer believes are necessary to
protect either the health of the infected individual or the public health.

(c)     [A] THE SECRETARY OR A health officer may not require an individual to
have a physical examination, other than a chest X ray and to render sputum samples. [ A]
THE SECRETARY OR A health officer may not restrict the right of the individual to select
a treatment method, if the individual:

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