ARTICLE 3. Ophthalmia Neonatorum [550. - 558.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 3.

in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 550. Section 550.

As used in this article, “ophthalmia neonatorum,” independent of the nature of the infection, means any condition of the eye, or eyes, of any infant in which there is any inflammation, swelling or redness in either one or both of the eyes of any infant, either apart from or together with any unnatural discharge from the eye, or eyes, of any infant, at any time within two weeks after its birth. As used in this article, “department” refers to the State Department of Health Services.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 551. Section 551.

It is the duty of any physician, surgeon, obstetrician, midwife, nurse, maternity home or hospital of any nature, parent, relative, and any person or persons attendant upon, or assisting in any way whatsoever, either the mother or child, or both, at childbirth, to treat both eyes of the infant within two hours after birth with a prophylactic efficient treatment, and in all cases where the child develops within two weeks after its birth ophthalmia neonatorum, and such person knows it to exist, to report the case within 24 hours after knowledge, in such form as the department directs, to the local health officer of the county or city within which the mother of any such infant resides.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 552. Section 552.

Any case of ophthalmia neonatorum or of blindness resulting from it upon which one accused of a violation of this article has been in attendance constitutes prima facie evidence of knowledge of the case by the one accused.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 553. Section 553.

All maternity homes, hospitals, and similar institutions wherein childbirths occur shall keep a record of all cases of ophthalmia neonatorum occurring or discovered therein. These records shall be in the form and contain the matters which the department prescribes.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 554. Section 554.

The local health officer shall: (a) Investigate each case filed with him in pursuance of this article, and all other cases coming to his attention. (b) Report all cases of ophthalmia neonatorum coming to his knowledge, and the result of all investigations that he makes to the department, in such form as the department directs. (c) Conform to such rules and regulations as the department promulgates for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this article.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 555. Section 555.

The State Department of Health Services shall: (a) Enforce the provisions of this article. (b) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out properly the provisions of this article. (c) Print and publish any further advice and information concerning the dangers of ophthalmia neonatorum and the necessity for prompt and effective treatment thereof, as it deems necessary. (d) Furnish without cost copies of this article to all physicians, midwives and such other persons as may be lawfully engaged in the practice of obstetrics or assisting at childbirths. (e) Keep a proper record of any and all cases of ophthalmia neonatorum filed in its office in pursuance of this article, and as may come to its attention in any way, and such records shall constitute a part of the biennial report to the Governor and the Legislature. (f) Report any and all violations of this article as may come to its attention to the district attorney of the county wherein any violation of any provision of this article has been committed, for the purpose of prosecution.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 556. Section 556.

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.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 557. Section 557.

If the person is a physician, midwife, or is a person who is professionally employed, the third conviction is sufficient cause for the revocation of his license by the board which has jurisdiction over it.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 558. Section 558.

One-half of all fines collected hereunder shall go to the county wherein the prosecution was had, and the remaining one-half thereof shall go into the state treasury and constitute a special fund to be expended by the department for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this article.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026