<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="Subtitle 3 – Reporting Diseases — Tuberculosis">
  <section prefix="§" num="4-301" heading="Laboratory test results.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Duty to report.">If a medical laboratory performs mycobacterial drug susceptibility tests of cultures that are identified as &lt;em&gt;M. tuberculosis&lt;/em&gt; and that have not been referred to the Maryland Laboratories Administration for this determination, the individual in charge of the laboratory must report the test results to the Commissioner.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="When to report.">Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the report must be made within 48 hours of obtaining the test results.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §206(f)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="4-302" heading="Drugs suggesting treatment.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Duty to report.">The individual in charge of any public or private pharmacy, other than a facility operated by the Department, must report to the Commissioner of Health whenever it dispenses any anti- tuberculosis medication that the Commissioner specifies by rule or regulation adopted under &lt;cite data-path="|health|§2-106"&gt;§ 2-106 {“Rules and regulations”} of this article&lt;/cite&gt; for purposes of this section.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="When to report.">Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the report must be made within 48 hours of having dispensed the medication.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Contents of report.">In addition to the information required by &lt;cite data-path="|health|§4-102"&gt;§ 4-102 {“Form and contents of reports”} of this title&lt;/cite&gt;, the report must contain the following information:<para num="(1)">the type, and strength of medication issued;</para>
      <para num="(2)">the daily dosage;</para>
      <para num="(3)">the dosing schedule;</para>
      <para num="(4)">the total amount prescribed;</para>
      <para num="(5)">the name and address of the physician who issued the prescription; and</para>
      <para num="(6)">the date the medication was dispensed.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Report not final diagnosis.">The prescription of medication:<para num="(1)">is not to be considered a final diagnosis; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">does not absolve the attending physician of the duty to report her or his diagnosis of the case under &lt;cite data-path="|health|§4-201"&gt;§ 4-201 {“Physicians”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §211(a) - (c)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Text Conformed 03/10/21</annotation>
    <annotation type="Editor's Notes">Text of subsection (a) conformed to include express cross-reference to § 2-106.  Cf. Editor’s Note to that section.</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="4-303" heading="Physician’s contact investigation.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Duty to conduct.">A physician who treats a patient with tuberculosis must:<para num="(1)">thoroughly investigate all individuals who might have been exposed to the patient at home, work, or otherwise; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">request the Commissioner to undertake this investigation.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Duty to report.">If the physician undertakes the investigation required by this section, the physician must report the results to the Commissioner.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Contents of report.">In addition to any other information that the Commissioner requires, the report must contain:<para num="(1)">evidence that an investigation has been thoroughly conducted;</para>
      <para num="(2)">the identity of the source case; and</para>
      <para num="(3)">the following information about each individual tested:<para num="(i)">the date and type of test performed;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">the results of the test; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">the personal information listed in &lt;cite data-path="|health|§4-102"&gt;§ 4-102 {“Form and contents of reports”} of this title&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §207(a), (b)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="4-304" heading="Patient leaving hospital or institution.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Duty to notify.">If a patient with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of tuberculosis leaves a ward, emergency room, or outpatient department of a hospital or other institution without the consent or against the advice of a physician or other individual in charge, the physician or other individual in charge must notify the Commissioner of the patient’s departure.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="When to notify.">Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the notice must be given within 24 hours of the patient’s departure.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Action by Commissioner.">The Commissioner may take whatever action is needed to protect the public from that patient.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §208(a)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="4-305" heading="Discontinued treatment.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Duty to notify.">If any patient being treated for tuberculosis discontinues treatment before the period that the Commissioner sets for that treatment, the attending physician must notify the Commissioner of the discontinuance.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="When to notify.">Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the notice must be given within 24 hours of the discontinuance.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Action by Commissioner.">The Commissioner may take whatever action is needed to protect the public from that patient.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §210(a)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="4-306" heading="Death from tuberculosis.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Duty to report.">Every physician or medical examiner must report to the Commissioner if he or she believes that an individual he or she attended or examined has died of tuberculosis.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="When to report.">Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the report must be made within 48 hours of the death or the discovery of the disease, whichever is later.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Contents of report.">In addition to the information required by &lt;cite data-path="|health|§4-102"&gt;§ 4-102 {“Form and contents of reports”} of this title&lt;/cite&gt;, the report must contain the place of death.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §209(a)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
