South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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H. 5056

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Forrest, McCravy and Howard
Document Path: l:\council\bills\cc\16166vr22.docx

Introduced in the House on March 1, 2022
Currently residing in the House Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

Summary: Health care professionals

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
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    3/1/2022  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 25)
    3/1/2022  House   Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and 
                        Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 25)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

3/1/2022

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 30, TITLE 44 SO AS TO REQUIRE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO NOTIFY CERTAIN AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS IF A PATIENT IS AT RISK OF HARMING HIMSELF OR OTHERS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Chapter 30, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 5

Duty to Report: Patient Risk of Harm to Self or Others

    Section 44-30-510.    For purposes of this article:

    (1)    'Health care professional' means a physician, physician's assistant, dentist, dental hygienist, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, podiatrist, chiropractor, or licensed massage therapist, practicing or licensed to practice in South Carolina, and a receptionist or any other employee or licensed health professional working in the offices of a health care professional.

    (2)    'Physician' means a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine licensed by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners.

    Section 44-30-520.    A health care professional has an affirmative duty to report to a family member or other individual authorized by the patient, as documented in the patient's health care record, to be notified of patient health information if, in the health care professional's opinion, the patient may be a person with a mental illness, as defined in Section 44-23-10, and because of this condition there is the likelihood of serious harm, as defined in Section 44-23-10."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on March 2, 2022 at 9:06 AM