(a) A qualified physician and surgeon who diagnoses a developmental disability, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 4512, of a patient who is a minor shall attempt to determine from the patient, the parents or guardian of the patient, or the regional center for the area whether the person has been previously referred to the regional center for the area. If the patient has not been previously referred to the regional center, the physician and surgeon shall inform a parent or the guardian of the patient of the existence of the regional center for the area, its address and telephone number, and shall describe to the person the services available through the regional center, and shall, upon request of the parent or guardian of the patient, refer in writing the patient through his or her parent or guardian to the regional center. Upon obtaining the consent of the patient’s parent or guardian, the physician and surgeon shall notify the regional center of the referral.
For the purposes of this section, “qualified physician and surgeon” means those physicians and surgeons who have recognized and accredited training and a specialized pediatric practice in childhood disabilities.
(b) Each regional center shall maintain a record of every developmentally disabled person under the age of 18 years known by the regional center to have been referred to it for its services, whether or not services are actually provided.
(c) The state department shall transmit a copy of this section and of subdivision (a) of Section 4512 to every physician and surgeon licensed to practice in this state and every general acute care hospital licensed under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. A list of the name and address of each regional center and such other pertinent information as the state department deems appropriate shall also be transmitted, both in English and Spanish.
(d) It is not the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to prevent any physician and surgeon subject to subdivision (a) from providing care or treatment to a developmentally disabled minor or to deprive developmentally disabled minors of adequate care provided through sources other than a regional center.
(Amended (as added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 429) by Stats. 1982, Ch. 466, Sec. 122.)
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