HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 814

BYRepresentatives Lewis, Braddock, Brooks, Bumgarner, O'Brien, J. Williams, Patrick, S. Wilson, L. Smith, Winsley, Ballard, Nealey, Valle, Amondson, Kremen, Moyer, Padden and Schoon

Requiring notification when a person dies from an infectious or communicable disease.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (9)

     Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Bumgarner, Cantwell, Lewis, Lux, D. Sommers and Vekich.

House Staff:Bill Hagens (786-7131)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 12, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this bill is to require certain notification when a person dies of an infectious disease.

Presently there is no requirement that attending physicians, health facility officials or family members notify morticians that a person died of infectious disease.

Certain infectious diseases, e.g. acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis, can continue to be a threat to public health for a period after the infected person is dead.

SUMMARY:

Attending physicians, health facility administrators, or family members are required to notify the mortician that the deceased had been diagnosed as having an infectious or communicable disease, if that person knows or reasonably should have known of such diagnosis.

Infectious or communicable disease is defined as:  infectious hepatitis; tuberculosis; rabies; tularemia; herpes simplex; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; viral hemorrhagic fever; gonorrhea; syphilis; Brikett's lymphoma; and Kaposi's sarcoma.

Information transmitted shall be privileged and confidential.

Willful violation of this act shall be a misdemeanor.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Doug Twibell, Washington State Funeral Director's Association; Bill Martin, Washington State Funeral Director's Association; and David Combs, Washington State Funeral Director's Association.

House Committee - Testified Against: Linda McDonald, Infection Control Practitioner; Barbara Soule, hospital epidemiologist; Pat Lynch, Harborview Medical Center; and Kathy Johnson.

House Committee - Testimony For:     These precautions are necessary to protect morticians.

House Committee - Testimony Against: These precautions are unnecessary and will place an undue burden upon physicians and hospitals.