New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 14 - DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HYGIENE
Chapter XIII - Office of Mental Health
Part 505 - Requirements Regarding Testing, Confidentiality And Precautions Concerning The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (hiv) And Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (aids)
Section 505.9 - Contact notification

(a) A physician may disclose HIV-related information, without the protected person's consent, to a contact or to a public health officer when:

(b) The physician must inform the protected person of the physician's intent to disclose. The physician must comply with the protected person's choice of whether the physician or health officer will attempt to notify the contact. All notification shall be in person, except where circumstances reasonably prevent doing so.

(c) The identity of the protected person shall not be disclosed to the contact.

(d) The person notifying the contact shall provide or make a referral for appropriate medical advice and counseling relating to emotional coping and recommended behavior changes.

(e) If a protected person is now deceased and the physician reasonably believes the protected person had not informed his/her contacts and reasonably believes disclosure is medically appropriate and that a significant risk of infection exists, the physician may notify the contact or may request the public health officer to notify the contact. All such notifications shall be in person, except where circumstances reasonably prevent doing so, and the identity of the deceased shall not be disclosed.

(f) A physician shall have no obligation to identify or locate any contact.