Prophylactic solution to be administered. The Mayor may, upon the advice of the Director of the Department of Health and pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to prevent and monitor the occurrence of ophthalmia in newborns. Unless the Mayor provides otherwise, each physician, certified midwife, certified professional midwife, or certified nurse-midwife who delivers or otherwise assumes the initial care of a newborn shall, immediately upon that delivery or assumption of care, administer to each eye of the newborn a 1% solution of silver nitrate, an ophthalmic ointment containing either 1% tetracycline or 0.5% erythromycin, or another prophylactic approved by the Mayor. (Apr. 27, 1937, 50 Stat. 120, ch. 144, § 1; Aug. 1, 1950, 64 Stat. 393, ch. 513, § 1; Feb. 21, 1986, D.C. Law 6-83, § 4(a), 32 DCR 7276; Dec. 29, 2021, D.C. Law 24-46, § 4(a), 68 DCR 011642.) Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 6-301. 1973 Ed., § 6-201. Editor's Notes Office of Director of Public Health abolished: See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-101.
District of Columbia Legal Code