Every physician attending a pregnant woman in the State for conditions relating to her pregnancy during the period of gestation or at delivery shall, in the case of every woman so attended, take or cause to be taken a sample of blood of such woman at the time of his first examination or within three days thereafter and shall submit such sample to an approved laboratory for a standard serological test for syphilis, rubella, Rh factor and a hemoglobin determination, if the latter test is not performed by the physician's staff. Such an approved laboratory must participate in an appropriate proficiency testing program approved by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Every person, other than a physician, permitted by law to attend pregnant women in the State, but not permitted by law to take blood samples, shall cause a sample of blood of each such pregnant woman to be taken by a physician duly licensed to practice medicine and surgery, registered nurse, laboratory technician or other person authorized to take blood for blood tests and have such sample submitted to an approved laboratory for a standard serological test for syphilis, rubella, Rh factor and a hemoglobin determination, if the latter test is not performed by the physician's staff. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than thirty days. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who submits a sworn affidavit stating that she objects to the tests herein required on grounds such tests conflict with her religious tenets or beliefs.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 32-596; 1952 Code Section 32-596; 1946 (44) 1542; 1972 (57) 2806.