NCJ Number
124410
Date Published
1989
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A review of all 50 States' laws regarding the notification of health care workers of possible exposure to HIV and other infectious diseases was conducted to determine how States manage incidents involving exposure, the required notification procedures, testing after exposure, confidentiality, and the issue of universal precautions.
Abstract
Findings showed that many State laws still cover only limited personnel categories, usually focusing on emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and funeral directors. However, a growing number of jurisdictions are also including law enforcement officers and correctional personnel. In addition, less than one-third of the States requiring notification have criminal or civil penalties for the failure to notify. Moreover, Hepatitis B has received only limited attention in State laws, although it is preventable with a vaccine, has led to more than 200 deaths to exposed health care workers, and is highly contagious and easily communicable through blood and sex. Concerns raised by the laws include the undermining of universal precautions, the lack of attention to patients' concerns, the lack of clarification regarding what represents a significant exposure to possible infection and who has the need to know about the exposure, and the lack of attention to the impacts of required notification laws. Charts, notes, and lists and summaries of State laws.