South Carolina § 44-29-10 - Reporting deaths from contagious or infectious diseases and chemical or other terrorism; increased prescription rates of drugs for diseases caused by chemical terrorism or infectious agents.

§ 44-29-10. Reporting deaths from contagious or infectious diseases and chemical or other terrorism; increased prescription rates of drugs for diseases caused by chemical terrorism or infectious agents.

(A) In all cases of known or suspected contagious or infectious diseases occurring within this State the attending physician must report these diseases to the county health department within twenty-four hours, stating the name and address of the patient and the nature of the disease. The county health department must report to the Department of Health and Environmental Control all such cases of infectious and contagious diseases as have been reported during the preceding month, these reports to be made upon blanks furnished by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The Department of Health and Environmental Control must designate the diseases it considers contagious and infectious. The Department of Health and Environmental Control may also designate other diseases for mandatory reporting by physicians. Any physician who fails to comply with the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or be imprisoned for a period not exceeding thirty days.

(B) A health care provider, coroner, medical examiner, or any person or entity that maintains a database containing health care data must report all cases of persons who harbor any illness or health condition that may be caused by chemical terrorism, bioterrorism, radiological terrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or novel and highly fatal infectious agents and might pose a substantial risk of a significant number of human fatalities or incidents of permanent or long-term disability. The Department of Health and Environmental Control must designate reportable illnesses and health conditions as set forth in subsection (A).

(C) A pharmacist must report any unusual or increased prescription rates, unusual types of prescriptions, or unusual trends in pharmacy visits that may be caused by chemical terrorism, bioterrorism, radiological terrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or novel and highly fatal infectious agents and might pose a substantial risk of a significant number of human fatalities or incidents of permanent or long-term disability. Prescription-related events that require a report include, but are not limited to:

(1) an unusual increase in the number of prescriptions to treat fever, respiratory, or gastrointestinal complaints;

(2) an unusual increase in the number of prescriptions for antibiotics;

(3) an unusual increase in the number of requests for information on over- the-counter pharmaceuticals to treat fever, respiratory, or gastrointestinal complaints; and

(4) any prescription that treats a disease that is relatively uncommon and has bioterrorism potential.

(D) The reports of conditions must be made in the form and manner as prescribed by DHEC in regulations concerning infectious diseases. The reports must be made to the Bureau of Disease Control in the manner required in the regulations. When available, clinical information supporting the diagnoses, including results of specific diagnostic tests, must be included.

(E) For purposes of this section, the terms chemical terrorism, bioterrorism, and radiological terrorism have the same meanings as provided in Section 44-4-130.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 32-552; 1952 Code SECTION 32-552; 1942 Code SECTION 5031; 1932 Code SECTIONS 1502, 5008; Civ. C. '22 SECTION 2319; Cr. C. '22 SECTION 450; Civ. C. '12 SECTION 1578; Cr. C. '12 SECTION 440; 1900 (23) 444; 1910 (26) 728; 1972 (57) 2496; 2002 Act No. 339, SECTION 25, eff July 2, 2002.