The Florida Senate

384.31  Serological testing of pregnant women; duty of the attendant.--

(1)  Every person, including every physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 or midwife licensed under part I of chapter 464 or chapter 467, attending a pregnant woman for conditions relating to pregnancy during the period of gestation and delivery shall take or cause to be taken a sample of venous blood at a time or times specified by the department. Each sample of blood shall be tested by a laboratory approved for such purposes under part I of chapter 483 for sexually transmissible diseases as required by rule of the department.

(2)  At the time the venous blood sample is taken, testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection shall be offered to each pregnant woman. The prevailing professional standard of care in this state requires each health care provider and midwife who attends a pregnant woman to counsel the woman to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Counseling shall include a discussion of the availability of treatment if the pregnant woman tests HIV positive. If a pregnant woman objects to HIV testing, reasonable steps shall be taken to obtain a written statement of such objection, signed by the patient, which shall be placed in the patient's medical record. Every person, including every physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 or midwife licensed under part I of chapter 464 or chapter 467, who attends a pregnant woman who has been offered and objects to HIV testing shall be immune from liability arising out of or related to the contracting of HIV infection or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) by the child from the mother.

History.--s. 90, ch. 86-220; s. 3, ch. 96-179; s. 91, ch. 2000-318.