(410 ILCS 215/0.01)

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4700)

Sec. 0.01.

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the

Infant Eye Disease Act.

(Source: P.A. 86‑1324.)

(410 ILCS 215/1)

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4701)

Sec. 1.

That any diseased condition of the eye, or eyes of any infant in which there is any inflammation, swelling or redness in either one or both eyes of any such infant, either apart from or together with any unnatural discharge from the eye, or eyes of such infant, at any time within two weeks after the birth of such infant, shall, independent of the nature of the infection, be known as ophthalmia neonatorum.

(Source: Laws 1915, p. 366.)

(410 ILCS 215/2)

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4702)

Sec. 2.

It shall be the duty of any physician, surgeon, obstetrician, midwife, nurse, maternity home or hospital, of any nature or parent assisting in any way whatsoever, any woman at childbirth, or assisting in any way whatsoever any infant, or the mother of any infant, at any time within two weeks after childbirth, observing or having a reasonable opportunity to observe the condition herein defined, and within six hours thereafter, to report in writing or by telephone followed by a written report such fact to the local health authorities of the city, town, village or other political division as the case may be, in which the mother of any such infant may reside: Provided, that such reports and the records thereof shall be deemed privileged information and shall not be open to the public.

(Source: Laws 1915, p. 366.)

(410 ILCS 215/3)

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4703)

Sec. 3.

It is the duty of all maternity homes and any and all hospitals or places where women resort for purposes of childbirth, to post and keep posted in conspicuous places in their institution, copies of this act, and to instruct persons professionally employed in such homes, hospitals and places regarding their duties under this act, and to maintain such records of cases of ophthalmia neonatorum in the manner and form prescribed by the Department of Public Health.

It shall be the duty of any physician, midwife or nurse who attends or assists at the birth of a child, to instill or have instilled in each eye of the new born baby, as soon as possible and not later than one hour after birth, a one per cent (1%) solution of silver nitrate or some other equally effective prophylactic for the prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum approved by the State Department of Public Health.

(Source: Laws 1933, p. 714.)

(410 ILCS 215/4)

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4704)

Sec. 4.

The local health officer shall:

(1) Investigate, in so far as that can be done without entering into the home or interfering with the child in any way without first securing the consent of the parents or guardian of such child, each case of ophthalmia neonatorum reported to him, and any other such case as may come to his attention.

(2) Report all cases of ophthalmia neonatorum and the results of all such investigations as he may make, to the Department of Public Health in the manner and form prescribed by said Department.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 1, p. 909.)

(410 ILCS 215/5)

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4705)

Sec. 5.

The Department of Public Health shall:

(1) enforce the provisions of this Act;

(2) provide for the gratuitous distribution of a scientific prophylactic for ophthalmia neonatorum, together with proper directions for the use and administration thereof, to all physicians and midwives authorized by law to attend at the birth of any child;

(3) have printed and published for distribution throughout the State advice and information concerning the dangers of ophthalmia neonatorum and the necessity for the prompt and effective treatment thereof;

(4) furnish similar advice and information, together with copies of this law, to all physicians, midwives, and others authorized by law to attend at the birth of any child;

(5) prepare appropriate report blanks and furnish them to all local health officers for distribution to physicians and midwives free of charge;

(6) report any and all violations of this Act to the prosecuting attorney of the district wherein the violation is committed.

(Source: 90‑655, eff. 7‑30‑98.)

(410 ILCS 215/6)

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4706)

Sec. 6.

Any collusion between any official and any person, or between any others herein named, to misstate or conceal any facts which under this Act are essential to report correctly any case of ophthalmia neonatorum, shall likewise constitute a Class A misdemeanor, and any person upon conviction thereof, shall suffer a penalty such as is hereinafter provided.

(Source: P. A. 77‑2830.)

(410 ILCS 215/7)

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4707)

Sec. 7.

It shall be the duty of the State's Attorney for the proper district to prosecute for all misdemeanors as herein prescribed.

(Source: Laws 1915, p. 366.)

(410 ILCS 215/8)

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4708)

Sec. 8.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

(Source: P. A. 77‑2716.)