An emergency medical services person who is a victim may request in writing to the source individual, or if the source individual is deceased, to a relative of the source individual or to the source individual’s estate, for medical records or information concerning blood-borne pathogens. If the source individual, a relative, or the estate denies the request or does not provide a response within three business days, the emergency medical services person may file a petition with the circuit court to require the source individual to provide the information or to be tested for blood-borne pathogens by the Department of Health and that an order be obtained for the purpose of taking a blood sample from the source individual for testing. The petition shall state that the emergency medical services person believes there was an exchange of blood, semen, or other bodily fluids from the source individual to the emergency medical services person and shall state the factual basis for believing there was such an exchange. The court shall hold a hearing at which both the emergency medical services person and the source individual, a relative, or the estate may be present. If the court finds probable cause to believe that there was an exchange of blood, semen, or other bodily fluids from the source individual to the emergency medical services person, the court may issue an order for the purpose of taking a blood sample from the source individual for testing for blood-borne pathogens. If the source individual is not available for testing, the court may order a release of medical information from the source individual’s medical providers to the emergency medical services person.

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Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-35B-7

  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.

Source: SL 2010, ch 132, § 2.