IC 16-41-15
    Chapter 15. Communicable Disease: Prevention and Control ofVenereal Diseases

IC 16-41-15-1
Approved laboratory
    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "approved laboratory" means alaboratory approved by the state department for making serologicaltests.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-2
Standard serological test for syphilis
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "standard serological test forsyphilis" means a test recognized as a standard serological test forsyphilis by the state department.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-3
Venereal disease prevention and control programs; appropriationrequests
    Sec. 3. The local board of health or health officer may requestfrom the appropriate body an appropriation for a venereal diseaseprevention and control program, which may include hospitalizationand quarantine, when the local board of health or health officerdetermines that either of the following conditions exist:
        (1) There is a prevalency of venereal disease inimical to thepublic health, safety, and welfare of the citizens.
        (2) Venereal disease is causing economic interference with anyphase of public welfare in the local health board's or healthofficer's jurisdiction.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-4
Appropriations
    Sec. 4. The local health officer shall transmit the request for fundsto establish the venereal disease prevention and control program tothe appropriate governing body, which may appropriate, out of anymoney that may be available in the governing body's general fund, anamount the governing body considers necessary and advisable toproperly carry out the program as an emergency appropriation.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-5
Tax levies; collection; credit
    Sec. 5. The appropriate governing body may levy annually a taxof not more than one cent ($0.01) on each one hundred dollars ($100)of taxable property for the control and prevention of venerealdisease. The tax is in addition to other taxes of the local governingbody. The tax shall be collected in the same manner as other taxes

and shall be credited to the local board of health venereal diseaseprevention and control fund.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24. Amended by P.L.6-1997, SEC.178.

IC 16-41-15-6
Infant eye examinations; treatment
    Sec. 6. A person in professional attendance at a birth shallcarefully examine the eyes of the infant and if there is reason forsuspecting infection in one (1) or both eyes, the person inprofessional attendance at the birth shall apply such prophylactictreatment as may be prescribed by the state department.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-7
Birth certificates; ophthalmia neonatorum precaution information
    Sec. 7. The state department shall require in each birth certificate,in addition to information otherwise required in the certificate, ananswer to the question "Were precautions taken against ophthalmianeonatorum?".
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-8
Duty to provide ophthalmia neonatorum precaution information
    Sec. 8. It is unlawful for any person in professional attendance ata birth to fail to include an answer to the question on a birthcertificate: "Were precautions taken against ophthalmianeonatorum?".
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-9
Infant eye inflammation, swelling, or discharge; reports; treatment
    Sec. 9. (a) If:
        (1) one (1) or both eyes of an infant become inflamed, swollen,or show an unnatural discharge or secretion at any time withintwo (2) weeks after birth; and
        (2) there is no legally qualified person in professionalattendance;
the parent or other person who is in charge of the care of the infantshall immediately report in writing the infection or unnaturaldischarge not more than six (6) hours after discovery to the healthofficer.
    (b) If treatment has not been secured by the time the report on theinfection or unnatural discharge is made, the local health officer shalldirect the person to secure adequate medical service and to make areport to the local health officer when the treatment has beensecured.
    (c) If the person who is in charge of the care of the infant isunable to pay for medical treatment for the infant, the local healthofficer may direct the person to place the infant in the charge of theproper agency or official responsible for the medical care of

indigents.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-10
Syphilis testing during pregnancy; duty of physician
    Sec. 10. A physician who diagnoses a pregnancy of a woman shalltake or cause to be taken a sample of blood:
        (1) at the time of diagnosis of pregnancy; and
        (2) during the third trimester of pregnancy, if the womanbelongs to a high risk population for which the Centers forDisease Control “Sexually Transmitted Diseases TreatmentGuidelines" recommend a third trimester syphilis testing;
and shall submit each sample to an approved laboratory for astandard serological test for syphilis.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24. Amended by P.L.255-1996,SEC.16.

IC 16-41-15-11
Syphilis testing during pregnancy; duty of attendant
    Sec. 11. A person other than a physician who is permitted by lawto attend a pregnant woman, but who is not permitted by law to takeblood specimens, shall cause a sample of the blood of the pregnantwoman to be taken by a licensed physician, who shall submit thesample to an approved laboratory for a standard serological test forsyphilis.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-12
Syphilis testing at time of delivery
    Sec. 12. If at the time of delivery positive evidence is notavailable to show that standard serological tests for syphilis havebeen made in accordance with section 10 of this chapter, the personin attendance at the delivery shall take or cause to be taken a sampleof the blood of the woman at the time of the delivery and shallsubmit the sample to an approved laboratory for a standardserological test for syphilis.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-13
Syphilis testing information; inclusion in birth and stillbirthcertificates
    Sec. 13. (a) The state department shall require in each birthcertificate and stillbirth certificate, in addition to informationotherwise required in the certificate, the following information:
        (1) Whether a serological test for syphilis was made for thewoman who bore the child.
        (2) If a serological test for syphilis was made, the date the bloodspecimen was taken.
        (3) If a serological test for syphilis was made, whether the testwas made during pregnancy or at the time of delivery.        (4) If a serological test for syphilis was not made, the reasonwhy the test was not made.
    (b) A person who prepares a birth certificate or a stillbirthcertificate shall include the information required in subsection (a).
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-14
Admission of infected persons to charitable and penal institutions
    Sec. 14. The fact that a person has a venereal disease may not barthe person's admission to a benevolent, charitable, or penalinstitution or correctional facility supported and maintained in anypart by state funds.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24. Amended by P.L.12-1996, SEC.12.

IC 16-41-15-15
Treatment of infected persons admitted to charitable and penalinstitutions
    Sec. 15. Whenever a person with a venereal disease is admitted toa benevolent, charitable, or penal institution or correctional facilityof Indiana, the superintendent or official in charge of the institutionor correctional facility shall institute and provide the propertreatment for the person and shall carry out laboratory tests necessaryto determine the nature, course, duration, and results of the treatment.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24. Amended by P.L.12-1996, SEC.13.

IC 16-41-15-16
Free laboratory service for charitable and penal institutions
    Sec. 16. The services of the laboratory of the state departmentshall be available without charge for the laboratory diagnoses andtests as may be necessary to carry out sections 14 and 15 of thischapter. The state institutions and the state department shallcooperate in every reasonable way in the prevention and suppressionof venereal diseases.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-17
Application of chapter to spiritual and prayer healing
    Sec. 17. Sections 10 through 12 of this chapter do not apply to thefollowing:
        (1) A person who administers to or treats the sick or sufferingby spiritual means or prayer.
        (2) A person who, because of the person's religious belief, ingood faith selects and depends upon spiritual means or prayerfor treatment or cure of diseases.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.

IC 16-41-15-18
Violations
    Sec. 18. (a) Except as otherwise provided, a person whorecklessly violates or fails to comply with this chapter commits a

Class B misdemeanor.
    (b) Each day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.24.