41-51-103 - Deceased inmates infected by bloodborne pathogens Notice to handlers of body. - Tennessee Statutes

41-51-103. Deceased inmates infected by bloodborne pathogens Notice to handlers of body.

(a)  Whenever any inmate committed to a state penal institution dies, and the inmate is known by health personnel of the department of correction to be infected by a bloodborne pathogen as defined in § 41-51-102(b)(1), the superintendent, director or warden of the state penal institution shall inform the person collecting the dead body and the funeral home to which the dead body is carried of the infectivity. Notice of infectivity shall be given before the dead body is removed from the state penal institution or the health care facility in which the inmate died.

(b)  This section does not authorize the release of confidential information to members of the public in violation of § 10-7-504. For the purposes of this section, any person informed of the results of any inmate's test for infectious diseases shall treat the information received as confidential.

[Acts 1997, ch. 372, § 1.]