Sec. 19a-490m. Development of surgery protocols by hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 19a-490m. Development of surgery protocols by hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities. (a) Each hospital and outpatient surgical facility shall develop protocols for accurate identification procedures that shall be used by such hospital or outpatient surgical facility prior to surgery. Such protocols shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) procedures to be followed to identify the (A) patient, (B) surgical procedure to be performed, and (C) body part on which the surgical procedure is to be performed, and (2) alternative identification procedures in urgent or emergency circumstances or where the patient is nonspeaking, comatose or incompetent or is a child. After January 1, 2006, no hospital or outpatient surgical facility may anesthetize a patient or perform surgery unless the protocols have been followed. Each hospital and outpatient surgical facility shall make a copy of the protocols available to the Commissioner of Public Health upon request.

      (b) Not later than October 1, 2006, the Department of Public Health shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health describing the protocols developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

      (P.A. 05-275, S. 26.)

      History: P.A. 05-275 effective July 13, 2005.