Texas Health and Safety Code - HEALTH & SAFETY § 81.0955. Testing for Accidental Exposure Involving a Deceased Person

(a) This section applies only to the accidental exposure to the blood or other body fluids of a person who dies at the scene of an emergency or during transport to the hospital involving an emergency response employee or volunteer or another first responder who renders assistance at the scene of an emergency or during transport of a person to the hospital.

(b) A hospital, certified emergency medical services personnel, a justice of the peace, a medical examiner, or a physician on behalf of the person exposed, following a report of the exposure incident, shall take reasonable steps to have the deceased person tested for reportable diseases. The hospital, certified emergency medical services personnel, justice of the peace, medical examiner, or physician shall provide the test results to the department or to the local health authority and to the designated infection control officer of an affected emergency response employee or volunteer responsible for following the procedures prescribed by Section 81.050(h) to inform the person exposed, and, if applicable, the department or the local health authority shall inform the next of kin of the deceased person regarding the test results. The hospital, certified emergency medical services personnel, medical examiner, or physician shall follow applicable reporting requirements prescribed by Subchapter C.  1 This subsection does not impose a duty on a hospital, certified emergency medical services personnel, a medical examiner, or a physician to provide any further testing, treatment, or services or to perform further procedures. This subsection does not impose a duty on a justice of the peace to order that further testing, treatment, or services be provided or further procedures be performed. The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.

(c) The organization that employs the exposed person or for which the exposed person works as a volunteer in connection with rendering the assistance is responsible for paying the costs of the test.

(d) If the deceased person is delivered to a funeral establishment as defined in Section 651.001, Occupations Code, before a hospital, certified emergency medical services personnel, or a physician has tested the deceased person, the funeral establishment shall allow, if requested by the hospital, certified emergency medical services personnel, or a physician, access to the deceased person for testing under this section.

(e) A test conducted under this section may be performed without the consent of the next of kin of the deceased person being tested.

(f) A hospital, certified emergency medical services personnel, or a physician that conducts a test under this section must comply with the confidentiality requirements of Section 81.046 except as specifically provided by this section.