N.Y. Public Health Law § 2803-v: Lymphedema information distribution

* § 2803-v. Lymphedema information distribution. 1. For the purposes

of this section, the term "lymphedema" shall mean an accumulation of

fluid in the interstitial tissue that causes swelling, most often in the

arms and/or legs, and occasionally in other parts of the body, from any

cause.

2. The commissioner shall design an informational packet about

lymphedema and shall require that every general hospital distribute such

packet to all patients at high risk of developing lymphedema. Patients

deemed high risk shall include:

(a) patients who experience any significant injury to soft tissue that

could reasonably be expected, using sound medical judgment, as a result

of severity and nature thereof, to compromise or cause to be ineffective

the drainage of the lymphatic system;

(b) patients who experience recurrent or persistent bacterial

infections that could reasonably be expected, using sound medical

judgment, as a result of severity and nature thereof, to compromise or

cause to be ineffective the drainage of the lymphatic system; or

(c) patients who have had corrective surgical procedures performed

that may have interfered with the lymph drainage by severing local

lymphatics in a manner that may jeopardize reconstitution and recovery

of lymph drainage.

* NB There are 2 § 2803-v's