A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-268 SO AS TO REQUIRE ALL HOSPITALS WITH EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE PHYSICIAN PHYSICALLY PRESENT ON SITE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT ALL TIMES THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS OPEN.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Article 3, Chapter 7, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 44-7-268.  As a condition of licensing and relicensing, every hospital in the State with an emergency department, regardless of classification, must have at least one physician physically present on site who is responsible for the emergency department at all times the emergency department is open.

 

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

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