By Mr. Sciortino of Medford, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1168) of Carl M. Sciortino, Jr., and Elizabeth A. Malia relative to patient privacy concerning tests for certain antibodies or antigens.  Health Care Financing.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

Elizabeth A. Malia

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to patient privacy.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 70F of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by

a) striking the word “HTLV-III” from line 3 and inserting the word “HIV”

b) striking the word “HTLV-III” from line 8 and inserting the word “HIV”

c) striking the word “HTLV-III” from line 14 and inserting the word “HIV”

d) striking the phrase “HTLV-III” from line 18 and inserting the word “HIV”

e) striking the phrase “screening antibody test for the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type III” from line 19 and inserting the words “laboratory test diagnostic of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)”

SECTION 2. Section 70F of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by inserting the following at the end of the first paragraph:-

“No person shall be denied testing for the HIV virus for refusal to consent to disclosure of his or her name or HIV status.”