If a health care practitioner has reason to believe based on a medical assessment of a mother or a newborn infant that the mother used a controlled substance for a nonmedical purpose during the pregnancy, the health care practitioner may administer, with or without the consent of the newborn infant’s parent or guardian, a toxicology test to the newborn infant under the health care practitioner’s care to determine whether there is evidence of prenatal exposure to a controlled substance. If the test results are positive, the health care practitioner shall report the results pursuant to § 26-8A-8.

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Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 26-8A-35

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.

Source: SL 2018, ch 167, § 1.