I need help with Virginia Law concerning mandatory testing for pregnant women and patients rights?

Question

I have been with one man and he has been with only me. I KNEW I did not have chlamydia. I called a doctor's office requesting a pregnancy test and ultrasound to see how far along I was. They told me to pay a certain fee up front (I did so) and that I would be billed the rest by labcorp. I got a bill from labcorp that included a urine culture, pap smear, sensitivity organism, and chlamydia amplification. The chlamydia test was $255 alone and I am self-pay ( do not have insurance) so that is a week's worth of pay to be tested for something I KNEW I didn't have and gave no consent for. I called the doc's office and was told that (EVEN THOUGH I GAVE NO CONSENT AND HAD NO CLUE I WAS BEING TESTING FOR IT) chlamydia testing is mandatory in the state of Virginia for pregnant women and the woman does not have to be told they are being tested. She said if I wanted to know that I should have asked. WHY would I ask WHAT I am being tested for if I explicitly requested to JUST have a pregnancy test and ultrasound???? So if I go to Outback and order a hamburger and fries, should I INQUIRE as to what else I will be getting and thus charged for (like an appetizer, steak, dessert, etc.)???? h**l NO!!!

Please tell me if you have heard of this law and where I can find it in my library or online. Also, how do I fight the charge????

Answer 1

http://www.courts.state.va.us/ed/resourc...

It's in there

Answer 2

It is standard procedure to test for STDs when you find out you are pregnant.  You have no idea how many times women have stated they've only been with one man and that man only with her, only to find out they have an STD.  This is to protect the baby.

Imagine the lawsuits they'd be facing for not testing for STDs, and for babies to wind up brain damaged or dead that could have otherwise been prevented with drugs to clear up the STD if they didn't test for these things.  These women who don't want to be tested for such things are the same ones bringing up lawsuits against hospitals for not having tested for these things.

Edit: Wouldn't you rather know they did the testing if you came out positive should your man have strayed?

Answer 3

I can find no law in the Virginia Code that would require such a thing. Ask the doctor's office for a specific law that requires that they do that. Since the test was not consented to by you, you should not have to pay for it. You should contact Labcorp and explain the situation to them. They should be billing the cost to the doctor.

Answer 4

The regulations of the Virginia Department of Health allow for prenatal testing of the mother for sexually transmitted diseases:

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504....

If you have no insurance, when your child is born, chances are that the Commonwealth will be paying for his/her medical care through MediCaid.  The Commonwealth just wants to know what to expect.  For example, many (if not most) STDs are transmitted to a child through vaginal delivery.  If health care professionals know of a mother's STD status ahead of time, a C-section can prevent transmission to the infant.