(a) For purposes of this section, “prenatal care provider” means a licensed health care professional providing prenatal care within his or her lawful scope of practice. This definition shall not include a licensed health care professional who provides care other than prenatal care to a pregnant patient.
(b) The prenatal care provider primarily responsible for providing prenatal care to a pregnant patient shall offer human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) information and counseling to every pregnant patient. This information and counseling shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) A description of the modes of HIV transmission.
(2) A discussion of risk reduction behavior modifications including methods to reduce the risk of perinatal transmission.
(3) If appropriate, referral information to other HIV prevention and psychosocial services including anonymous and confidential test sites approved by the Office of AIDS.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require mandatory testing. Any documentation or disclosure of HIV-related information shall be made in accordance with Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 120975) of Part 4 of Division 105 regarding confidentiality and informed consent.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit a prenatal care provider to unlawfully disclose an individual’s HIV status, or to otherwise violate provisions of Section 54 of the Civil Code, or 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. 4. Effective January 1, 2008.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018