(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a health care professional who makes a clinical diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease may provide expedited partner therapy for the treatment of the sexually transmitted disease if, in the judgment of the health care professional, the sexual partner is unlikely or unable to present for comprehensive health care, including evaluation, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Expedited partner therapy is limited to a sexual partner who may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease within the previous sixty days and who is able to be contacted by the patient.

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 16-4F-2

  • Department: means the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. See West Virginia Code 16-4F-1
  • Expedited partner therapy: means prescribing, dispensing, furnishing or otherwise providing prescription antibiotic drugs to the sexual partner or partners of a person clinically diagnosed as infected with a sexually transmitted disease without physical examination of the partner or partners. See West Virginia Code 16-4F-1
  • Health care professional: means :

    (A) An allopathic physician licensed pursuant to article three, chapter . See West Virginia Code 16-4F-1

  • Judgment: includes decrees and orders for the payment of money, or the conveyance or delivery of land or personal property, or some interest therein, or any undertaking, bond or recognizance which has the legal effect of a judgment. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
  • Sexually transmitted disease: means a disease that may be treated by expedited partner therapy as determined by rule of the department. See West Virginia Code 16-4F-1

(b) Any health care professional who provides expedited partner therapy shall comply with all necessary provisions of article four of this chapter.

(c) A health care professional who provides expedited partner therapy shall provide counseling for the patient, including advice that all women and symptomatic persons, and in particular women with symptoms suggestive of pelvic inflammatory disease, are encouraged to seek medical attention. The health care professional shall also provide in written or electronic format materials provided by the department to be given by the patient to his or her sexual partner.