§ 50-25.1-17 — Toxicology testing - Requirements

North Dakota § 50-25.1-17

• Jurisdiction: North Dakota
• Title 50: Public Welfare
• Ch. 50-25.1: Child Abuse and Neglect

Text

1. If the woman has obstetrical complications that are a medical indication of possible
use of a controlled substance for a nonmedical purpose or alcohol misuse, upon the
consent of the pregnant woman, or without consent if a specimen is otherwise
available, a physician may administer a toxicology test to a pregnant woman under the
physician's care or to a woman under the physician's care within eight hours after
delivery to determine whether there is evidence that she has ingested a controlled
substance or alcohol. If the test results are positive, the physician may report the
results under section 50-25.1-03.1. A negative test result or the pregnant woman's
refusal to consent to a test does not eliminate the obligation to report under section
50-25.1-03 if other evidence gives the physician reason to believe the patient has used
a controlled substance for a nonmedical purpose or has engaged in alcohol misuse.
2. If a physician has reason to believe based on a medical assessment of the mother or
the infant that the mother used a controlled substance for a nonmedical purpose or
engaged in alcohol misuse during the pregnancy, the physician may administer,
without the consent of the child's parents or guardian, to the newborn infant born under
the physician's care a toxicology test to determine whether there is evidence of
prenatal exposure to a controlled substance or alcohol. If the test results are positive,
the physician may report the results as neglect under section 50-25.1-03. A negative
test result does not eliminate the obligation to report under section 50-25.1-03 if other
medical evidence of prenatal exposure to a controlled substance or alcohol misuse is
present.
3. A physician or any other medical personnel administering a toxicology test to
determine the presence of a controlled substance or alcohol in a pregnant woman, in a
woman within eight hours after delivery, or in a child at birth or during the first month of
life is immune from civil or criminal liability arising from administration of the test if the
physician ordering the test believes in good faith that the test is required under this
section and the test is administered in accordance with reasonable medical practice. A
physician or any other medical personnel who determines in good faith not to
administer a toxicology test under this section is immune from liability for not
administering the test.