Alabama § 22-11A-14 - Cases of Sexually Transmitted Diseases to Be Reported; Contents of Report; Reports Confidential; Penalty for Violation; Measures for Protection of Others.

§ 22-11A-14. Cases of Sexually Transmitted Diseases to Be Reported; Contents of Report; Reports Confidential; Penalty for Violation; Measures for Protection of Others.

(a) Any physician who diagnoses or treats a case of sexually transmitted disease as designated by the State Board of Health, or any administrator of any hospital, dispensary, correctional facility or other institution in which a case of sexually transmitted disease occurs shall report it to the state or county health officer or his designee in a time and manner prescribed by the State Board of Health.

(b) The report shall be upon a form prescribed by the State Board of Health and, at a minimum, shall state the patient’s full name, date of birth, race, sex, marital status, address, telephone number, place of employment, stage of disease, medication and amount given, and the date of onset.

(c) Any person who is charged with the responsibility of operating a laboratory which performs tests for sexually transmitted diseases as designated by the State Board of Health shall report all positive and/or reactive test results to the State Board of Health in a time and manner prescribed by the State Board of Health.

(d) The laboratory report shall be on a form prescribed by the State Board of Health which, at a minimum, shall include the patient’s full name, age or date of birth, race, test results, name and address of attending physician and date of report.

(e) The reports required by this section shall be confidential and shall not be subject to public inspection or admission into evidence in any court except proceedings brought under this article to compel the examination, testing, commitment or quarantine of any person or upon the written consent of the patient.

(f) Any person violating the provisions of this section or rules made pursuant thereto shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, may be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00.

(g) Upon receipt of a report of a case of sexually transmitted disease, the county or State Health Officer shall institute such measures as he or she deems necessary or appropriate for the protection of other persons from infection by such diseased person as said health officer is empowered to use to prevent the spread of contagious, infectious or communicable diseases.