The Mayor may, upon the advice of the Commissioner of Public Health and pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to prevent and monitor the occurrence of ophthalmia in newborns. Unless the Mayor provides otherwise, each physician or nurse-midwife who delivers or otherwise assumes the initial care of a newborn shall immediately upon that delivery or assumption of care administer to each eye of the newborn a 1% solution of silver nitrate, an ophthalmic ointment containing either 1% tetracycline or 0.5% erythromycin, or another prophylactic approved by the Mayor.
CREDIT(S)
(Apr. 27, 1937, 50 Stat. 120, ch. 144, § 1; Aug. 1, 1950, 64 Stat. 393, ch. 513, § 1; Feb. 21, 1986, D.C. Law 6-83, § 4(a), 32 DCR 7276.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-301.
1973 Ed., § 6-201.
Legislative History of Laws
Law 6-83, the “Preventive Health Services Amendments Act of 1985,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 6-99, which was referred to the Committee on Human Services. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 5, 1985, and November 19, 1985, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on November 27, 1985, it was assigned Act No. 6-108 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Miscellaneous Notes
Office of Director of Public Health abolished: See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-101.