§ 32.1-36.1 — Confidentiality of test for human immunodeficiency virus; civil penalty; individual action for damages or penalty

Virginia § 32.1-36.1

• Jurisdiction: Virginia
• Title 32.1: HEALTH
• Ch. 2: DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL
• Art. 1: REPORTING OF DISEASES

Text

A. The results of every test to determine infection with human immunodeficiency virus shall be confidential. Such information may be released only to persons or entities permitted or authorized to obtain protected health information under any applicable federal or state law.

B. In any action brought under this section, if the court finds that a person has willfully or through gross negligence made an unauthorized disclosure in violation of this section, the Attorney General, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or any attorney for the county, city or town in which the violation occurred may recover for the Literary Fund, upon petition to the court, a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 per violation.

C. Any person who is the subject of an unauthorized disclosure pursuant to this section shall be entitled to initiate an action to recover actual damages, if any, or $100, whichever is greater. In addition, such person may also be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.

D. This section shall not be deemed to create any duty on the part of any person who receives such test results, where none exists otherwise, to release the results to a person listed herein as authorized to receive them.

Legislative History

1989, c. 613; 1990, c. 777; 1993, cc. 97, 664; 2017, c. 178.