§ 34-23B-6 — Referral to alcohol or drug program--Immunity from liability.

Any physician, physician's assistant, nurse, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, counselor, social worker, licensed or registered child welfare provider, employee or volunteer of a domestic abuse center, chemical dependency counselor, or safety sensitive position as defined in § 3-6C-1 who provides services to a pregnant woman may make a referral to a prevention or treatment program accredited pursuant to chapter 34-20A if the provider has information that a pregnant woman is engaging in the abusive use of alcohol or use of any controlled drug or substance not lawfully prescribed by a practitioner as authorized by chapter 22-42 or 34-20B . Any such provider, who, in good faith, makes a referral to a prevention or treatment program accredited pursuant to chapter 34-20A of a pregnant woman engaging in abusive use of alcohol, abusive use of a lawfully prescribed controlled substance, or use of any controlled drug or substance not lawfully prescribed by a practitioner as authorized by chapter 22-42 or 34-20B , is immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed, and has the same immunity with respect to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the referral. This immunity also extends to any public official who in good faith is involved in the investigation of such conduct or to any person described in this section who in good faith cooperates with any public official in an investigation. Any referral pursuant to this section is permissive and nothing in this section requires the making of any referral.

Legislative History

SL 2006, ch 183, § 1; SL 2017, ch 171, § 50; SL 2021, ch 116, § 2.