GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 788
Second Edition Engrossed 5/12/93

Short Title:  Report Burn Injuries.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives DeVane; and Bowman.
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Referred to:  Judiciary II.
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April 7, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE REPORTING OF BURN-RELATED INJURIES FROM FIRES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. G.S. 90-21.20 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90-21.20. Reporting by physicians and hospitals of wounds, injuries and illnesses.
(a)	Such cases of wounds, injuries or illnesses as are enumerated in subsection (b) shall be reported as soon as it becomes practicable before, during or after completion of treatment of a person suffering such wounds, injuries, or illnesses. If such case is treated in a hospital, sanitarium or other medical institution or facility, such report shall be made by the Director, Administrator, or other person designated by the Director or Administrator, or if such case is treated elsewhere, such report shall be made by the physician or surgeon treating the case, to the chief of police or the police authorities of the city or town of this State in which the hospital or other institution, or place of treatment is located. If such hospital or other institution or place of treatment is located outside the corporate limits of a city or town, then the report shall be made by the proper person in the manner set forth above to the sheriff of the respective county or to one of his deputies.
(b)	Cases of wounds, injuries or illnesses which shall be reported  by physicians, and hospitals include every case of a bullet wound, gunshot wound, powder burn or any other injury arising from or caused by, or appearing to arise from or be caused by, the discharge of a gun or firearm, every case of illness apparently caused by poisoning, every case of a burn-related injury from fire if it appears to the physician or surgeon treating the case that a criminal act was involved, every case of a wound or injury caused, or apparently caused, by a knife or sharp or pointed instrument if it appears to the physician or surgeon treating the case that a criminal act was involved, and every case of a wound, injury or illness in which there is grave bodily harm or grave illness if it appears to the physician or surgeon treating the case that the wound, injury or illness resulted from a criminal act of violence.
(c)	Each report made pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall state the name of the wounded, ill, burned, or injured person, if known,  and the age, sex, race, residence or present location, if known, and the character and extent of the person's injuries.  In cases of burn-related injuries from fires, the law enforcement authorities to whom reports are made under subsection (a) of this section shall, within five working days after receiving the reports, forward copies of the reports to the Attorney General, who may investigate the injuries pursuant to Article 1 of Chapter 69 of the General Statutes.
(d)	Any hospital, sanitarium, or other like institution or Director, Administrator, or other designated person, or physician or surgeon participating in good faith in the making of a report pursuant to this section shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed as the result of the making of such report."
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective October 1, 1993.