50-18-109. Permissible release of information concerning infected persons. (1) Information concerning persons infected or reasonably suspected to be infected with a sexually transmitted disease may be released only:

(a) to personnel of the department of public health and human services;

(b) to a physician who has written consent of the person whose record is requested;

(c) to a local health officer; or

(d) by the department of public health and human services or a local health officer or board under the circumstances allowed by Title 50, chapter 16, part 6.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the term "information" includes all knowledge or intelligence and all communications of all knowledge or intelligence, oral or written or in record form, and also includes but is not limited to information concerning the location or nature of the activities or work of all local, state, or federal employees or officers engaged in sexually transmitted disease eradication work. Communications to and from personnel are privileged as provided in 26-1-810.

(3) The purpose of this section is to protect and preserve the principle of confidentiality in sexually transmitted disease work by local, state, and federal public personnel, as confidentiality is important to the success of all sexually transmitted disease eradication work and endeavor, and to require that the principle of confidentiality in the work remain inviolate.

History: En. Sec. 106, Ch. 197, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 135, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 109, Ch. 349, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 69-4610; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 440, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 117, Ch. 418, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 294, Ch. 546, L. 1995.