H 4935 General Bill, By Koon, Allison, Bailey, G. Brown, A.W. Byrd, B.D. Cain, 
Cato, Cave, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Easterday, Fleming, Gamble, R.J. Herdklotz, 
J. Hines, Inabinett, Keegan, Kelley, Kirsh, Lloyd, McKay, Moody-Lawrence, 
Neilson, Phillips, Riser, Seithel, Spearman, Tripp, Vaughn, D.C. Waldrop, 
Whipper, L.S. Whipper, D. Williams and D.A. Wright
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 39-1-80 so as to require a physician to inform a patient of the advantages,
 disadvantages, risks and manufacturer's warnings before surgically implanting
 any foreign matter into the patient's body.

   04/11/96  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-32
   04/11/96  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-33

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 39-1-80 SO AS TO REQUIRE A PHYSICIAN TO INFORM A PATIENT OF THE ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES, RISKS, AND MANUFACTURER'S WARNINGS BEFORE SURGICALLY IMPLANTING ANY FOREIGN MATTER INTO THE PATIENT'S BODY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 39-1-80. Before a physician operates on a patient to surgically implant any foreign matter into a patient's body including, but not limited to, artificial joints and breast implants, the physican shall inform the patient of the advantages, disadvantages, and risks associated with the implantation including manufacturer's warnings."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.