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HomeBusiness and Professions CodeDiv. 2Ch. 1Art. 3§ 556 Neonatal Eye Infection Penalties

§ 556 Neonatal Eye Infection Penalties

Business and Professions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 556 Neonatal Eye Infection Penalties

Key Takeaways

  • •Doctors, hospitals, and maternity homes must report and treat a specific eye infection in newborns called ophthalmia neonatorum.
  • •They must also follow all the rules set by the health department about this.
  • •If they don’t report, treat, or follow the rules, they can be fined.
  • •The fine gets bigger each time they break the rule: $100 for the first time, $200 for the second time, and $400 for the third time and any more times after that.

Example

A hospital forgets to report a case of a newborn with ophthalmia neonatorum to the health department.

The hospital broke the rule by not reporting the eye infection. They could be fined $100 if it’s their first time forgetting.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 556 Neonatal Eye Infection Penalties

The failure of any person mentioned in Section 551 to report, or the failure of any maternity home, hospital, or similar institution, to use the treatment prescribed in Section 551 and to record any and all cases of ophthalmia neonatorum, as directed in Section 553, or the failure or refusal of any person or institution, mentioned in this article, to obey any rule or regulation adopted by the department under this article constitutes a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined, for the first offense not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100); for a second offense not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200); and for a third offense, and thereafter not to exceed four hundred dollars ($400) for each violation. (Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1092, Sec. 1. Effective September 27, 1983. Operative January 1, 1984, by Sec. 427 of Ch. 1092.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

convictiontreatmentregulationhospitalhealthportoffensefine

Related Statutes

  • § 680 Healthcare Practitioner Name Tag Rule
  • § 3640.3 Naturopathic Assistant Limitations
  • § 7582.05 Private Patrol Operator Violations
  • § 125.7 Licensee Business Restraining Orders
  • § 16000 City Business Licensing Authority

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 556.
View Official Source