(a) Subdivision (a) of Section 125085 shall not be applicable if the licensed physician and surgeon or other person engaged in the prenatal care of a pregnant woman or attending the woman at the time of delivery has knowledge of the woman’s blood type and accepts responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
(b) Subdivision (b) of Section 125085 shall not be applicable if the licensed physician and surgeon or other person engaged in the prenatal care of a pregnant woman or attending the woman at the time of delivery has knowledge that the woman has previously been determined to be chronically infected with hepatitis B or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and accepts responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
(c) Prior to obtaining a blood specimen collected pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 125085 or this section, the physician and surgeon or other person engaged in the prenatal care of a pregnant woman, or attending the woman at the time of labor or delivery, shall ensure that the woman is informed of the intent to perform a test for HIV infection, the routine nature of the test, the purpose of the testing, the risks and benefits of the test, the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV, that approved treatments are known to decrease the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV, and that the woman has a right to decline this testing.
(d) If, during the final review of standard of prenatal care medical tests, the medical records of the pregnant woman do not document a test for rhesus (Rh) antibody blood type, a test for hepatitis B, or a test for HIV, the physician and surgeon or other person engaged in the prenatal care of the woman, or attending the woman at the time of labor or delivery, shall obtain a blood specimen from the woman for the tests that have not been documented. Prior to obtaining this blood specimen, the provider shall ensure that the woman is informed of the intent to perform the tests that have not been documented prior to this visit, including a test for HIV infection, the routine nature of the test, the purpose of the testing, the risks and benefits of the test, the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV, that approved treatments are known to decrease the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV, and that the woman has a right to decline the HIV test. The blood shall be tested by a method that will ensure the earliest possible results, and the results shall be reported to both of the following:
(1) The physician and surgeon or other person engaged in the prenatal care of the woman or attending the woman at the time of delivery.
(2) The woman tested.
(e) After the results of the tests done pursuant to this section and Section 125085 have been received, the physician and surgeon or other person engaged in the prenatal care of the pregnant woman or attending the woman at the time of labor, delivery, or post partum care at the time the results are received shall ensure that the woman receives information and counseling, as appropriate, to explain the results and the implications for the mother’s and infant’s health, including any followup testing and care that are indicated. If the woman tests positive for HIV antibodies, she shall also receive, whenever possible, a referral to a provider, provider group, or institution specializing in prenatal and post partum care for HIV-positive women and their infants. Health care providers are also strongly encouraged to seek consultation with HIV specialists who provide care for pregnant and post partum HIV-positive women and their infants.
(f) The provisions of Section 125107 for counseling are equally applicable to every pregnant patient covered by subdivisions (c) and (d).
(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit a licensed physician and surgeon or other person engaged in the prenatal care of a pregnant woman or attending the woman at the time of delivery to unlawfully disclose an individual’s HIV status, or to otherwise violate provisions of Section 54 of the Civil Code, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336), or the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 12900) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), which prohibit discrimination against individuals who are living with HIV, or who test positive for HIV, or are presumed to be HIV-positive.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 550, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2008.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018