Pennsylvania Code
Title 49 - PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL STANDARDS
Part I - DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Subpart A - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS
Chapter 23 - STATE BOARD OF OPTOMETRY
CHILD ABUSE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Section 23.115 - Confidentiality-waived

To protect children from abuse, the reporting requirements of this chapter take precedence over provisions of the act as defined in § 23.1 (relating to definitions) and other ethical principles or professional standards that might otherwise apply to optometrists. In accordance with 23 Pa.C.S. § 6311.1 (relating to privileged communications), privileged communications between a mandated reporter and a patient do not apply to a situation involving child abuse and do not relieve the mandated reporter of the duty to make a report of suspected child abuse.

The provisions of this §23.115 issued under the Child Protective Services Law, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(2); and section 3(b)(14) of the Optometric Practice and Licensure Act (63 P. S. § 244.3(b)(14)).