§ 16-4-16 — Hearing on warrant; detention

When a party is brought in for a hearing upon arrest under the warrant provided in the preceding section, the health officer shall at once proceed to ascertain the facts in the case, and to this end he may summon witnesses, and administer oaths to such witnesses touching their testimony, and may commit for contempt for failure to answer proper questions, and may, if proper, discharge the party from further custody; but if from the testimony it appears that the party so apprehended is properly classifiable under any subdivision of section four of this article, touching persons reasonably suspected of being infected with a venereal disease, then such party shall not be released from custody until proof has been made showing the party is already under treatment from a reputable physician, or other person, or until an examination has been made to ascertain whether in fact said party is so infected, and results of all tests and examinations are known, and shall make all orders touching the care, custody, and examination of the party as are reasonably necessary in the premises, and if it is found that said party is infected, then he may make any other orders that may be necessary touching the treatment of such party, and if said party is suffering with one or more venereal diseases in an infectious stage, said party shall not be released from custody until the diseases are past such infectious stage, and said party may be detained or quarantined in any place or institution provided for the purpose, or in the patient's own home if the health officer thinks best; and if no other place is available for such purposes, then such party shall be detained in the city or county jail, as the case may be. And it shall be the duty of every city and every county in the state to take this contingency in hand when they are making up their estimates for taxation and levy purposes and to provide therefor.