Title 23
Health and Safety

Chapter 6.3
Prevention and Suppression of Contagious Diseases — HIV/AIDS

R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-6.3-10

§ 23-6.3-10. Notification of disclosure.

(a) In all cases when an individual’s HIV test results are disclosed to a third-party, other than a person involved in the care and treatment of the individual, and except as permitted by § 23-6.3-7 (permitted disclosures re: confidentiality), and permitted by and disclosed in accordance with the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public law 104-191) enacted on August 21, 1996 and as thereafter amended, the person so disclosing shall make reasonable efforts to inform that individual in advance of:

(1) The nature and purpose of the disclosure;

(2) The date of disclosure;

(3) The recipient of the disclosed information.

(b) Healthcare providers may inform third-parties with whom an HIV infected patient is in close and continuous exposure related contact, including, but not limited to a spouse and/or partner, if the nature of the contact, in the healthcare provider’s opinion, poses a clear and present danger of HIV transmission to the third-party, and if the physician has reason to believe that the patient, despite the healthcare provider’s strong encouragement, has not and will not inform the third-party that they may have been exposed to HIV.

History of Section.
P.L. 2009, ch. 196, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 289, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 239, § 18.