2010 Tennessee Code
Title 68 - Health, Safety and Environmental Protection
Chapter 5 - Prevention of Diseases
Part 2 - Newborn TestingEyes
68-5-202 - Treatment specified for infant at birth Reports of redness, swelling, inflammation or pus Penalty.
68-5-202. Treatment specified for infant at birth Reports of redness, swelling, inflammation or pus Penalty.
(a) It is the duty of any physician, nurse or midwife who assists and is in charge at the birth of any infant, or has the care of the infant after birth, to treat the eyes of the infant with a prophylaxis to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum or infections leading to blindness. The treatment shall be given as soon as practicable after the birth of the infant and always within one (1) hour; and if any redness, swelling, inflammation, or gathering of pus appears in the eyes of the infant or upon the lid or about the eyes within two (2) weeks after birth, then any nurse, midwife or other person having care of the infant shall report the condition within six (6) hours after its discovery to a physician licensed and practicing medicine in this state.
(b) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
[Acts 1915, ch. 52, §§ 2, 3; Shan., §§ 6756a3, 6756a4; Code 1932, §§ 11175, 11176; modified; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 53-622, 53-623; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 2008, ch. 847, § 2.]
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Tennessee may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
