§ 144 — Medical practitioners to report contagious diseases; use of laboratory for examination and diagnosis; other uses

(a) All physicians, dentists, veterinary surgeons or others practicing medicine or surgery or any branch thereof under the laws of this State shall be required to give prompt notice to the local or Division of Public Health of any and all cases of contagious or infectious disease that may come under their professional notice and shall have free access to the work of the laboratory for the determination of the diagnosis of any doubtful or suspicious case, by forwarding (prepaid) a sufficient sample of urine, blood, sputum or other substance of such case to the Pathologist and Bacteriologist for examination. The Pathologist and Bacteriologist shall examine the substance so sent and report to the physician, dentist or others sending the same the result of the examination without any unnecessary delay and without further charge. The physician, dentist or others shall report the result immediately as required by this subsection.

(b) The Department of Health and Social Services may also make full provisions for the free use of the laboratory for the examination of any matter or substance so as to determine the diagnosis of diseases neither contagious nor infectious, and either local or constitutional and for the examination of water or food supply for any citizen of the State.

Legislative History

21 Del. Laws, c. 240, § 4 ; Code 1915, § 785; 33 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 4 ; 34 Del. Laws, c. 69, § 1 ; Code 1935, § 810; 16 Del. C. 1953, § 144; 70 Del. Laws, c. 147, §§ 2, 3 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 53 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1