{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-216b.190","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 216B.190","heading":"Newborn infant -- Treatment when identity of parents is unknown --","body":"Immunity from liability -- Anonymity of person leaving infant -- Emergency\ncustody order -- Materials for health and medical information.\n(1) As used in this section:\n(a) \"Newborn infant\" means an infant who is medically determined to be less than\nthirty (30) days old.; and\n(b) \"Participating place of worship\" has the same meaning as in KRS 405.075.\n(2) Every hospital of this state that offers emergency services shall admit and provi de\nall necessary medical care, diagnostic tests, and medical treatment to any newborn\ninfant brought to the hospital when the identity of the parents is unknown. Any\nperson performing medical care, diagnostic testing, or medical treatment shall be\nimmune from criminal or civil liability for having performed the act. Nothing in this\nsubsection shall limit liability for negligence.\n(3) Any person or parent, other than an emergency medical services provider, a police\nofficer, a firefighter, or a staff member a t a participating place of worship acting in\nthe course of his or her official duties, who leaves a newborn infant at an emergency\nroom, or brings a newborn infant to an emergency room and expresses an intent to\nleave the infant and not return, shall have the right to remain anonymous and to\nleave at any time, and shall not be pursued or followed. The physician shall consider\nthese actions as implied consent for treatment.\n(4) Upon admittance, the physician or hospital administrator shall immediately contac t\nthe local office of the Department for Community Based Services. The Department\nfor Community Based Services shall immediately seek an emergency custody order\nin accordance with KRS 620.350.\n(5) Every emergency room shall make available materials to gath er health and medical\ninformation concerning the infant and the parents. The materials shall be offered to\nthe person leaving the newborn infant and it shall be clearly stated that acceptance is\ncompletely voluntary and completion of the materials may be done anonymously.\n(6) The provisions of subsection (3) of this section shall not apply when indicators of\nchild physical abuse or child neglect are present.","path":["KRS Chapter 216B"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=45351","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:52:23Z","sha256":"e952928b1f24e9eced35b9988fd5ad54539b1de9239d3f343d32609d18b8b3f5","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-216b.185","next":"us-ky/krs-216b.195"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}