RCW 70.05.180 Infectious disease testing—Good samaritans—Rules.

A person rendering emergency care or transportation, commonly known as a "Good Samaritan," as described in RCW 4.24.300 and 4.24.310, may request and receive appropriate infectious disease testing free of charge from the local health department of the county of her or his residence, if: (1) While rendering emergency care she or he came into contact with bodily fluids; and (2) she or he does not have health insurance that covers the testing. Nothing in this section requires a local health department to provide health care services beyond testing. The department shall adopt rules implementing this section.

The information obtained from infectious disease testing is subject to statutory confidentiality provisions, including those of chapters 70.24 and 70.05 RCW.

[ 1999 c 391 § 2.]

NOTES:

Findings—Purpose—1999 c 391: "The legislature finds that citizens who assist individuals in emergency situations perform a needed and valuable role that deserves recognition and support. The legislature further finds that emergency assistance in the form of mouth to mouth resuscitation or other emergency medical procedures resulting in the exchange of bodily fluids significantly increases the odds of being exposed to a deadly infectious disease. Some of the more life-threatening diseases that can be transferred during an emergency procedure where bodily fluids are exchanged include hepatitis A, B, and C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Individuals infected by these diseases value confidentiality regarding this information. A number of good samaritans who perform lifesaving emergency procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation are unable to pay for the tests necessary for detecting infectious diseases that could have been transmitted during the emergency procedure. It is the purpose of this act to provide infectious disease testing at no cost to good samaritans who request testing for infectious diseases after rendering emergency assistance that has brought them into contact with a bodily fluid and to further protect the testing information once obtained through confidentiality provisions." [ 1999 c 391 § 1.]

Effective date—1999 c 391 §§ 1 and 2: "Sections 1 and 2 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately [May 18, 1999]." [ 1999 c 391 § 7.]