Rule 3701-54-05 | Objections to screening.
(A) The parent, guardian, or custodian of a newborn or infant may object to critical congenital heart disease screening on the grounds that the screening conflicts with the parent's, guardian's, or custodian's religious tenets and practices.
(B) A parent's, guardian's, or custodian's refusal to consent to a critical congenital heart disease screening will be documented on a form provided by the department or in a written statement signed by the parent, guardian, or custodian. The written statement will include the following:
(1) The parent, guardian, or custodian is fully informed and understands the possible consequences to their child's health resulting from undetected critical congenital heart disease;
(2) The parent, guardian, or custodian has received critical congenital heart disease screening information;
(3) The parent, guardian, or custodian is objecting on the grounds that the screening conflicts with their religious tenets and practices; and
(4) The parent, guardian, or custodian releases and holds harmless the director, the hospital, newborn care nursery or freestanding birthing center, the person responsible for conducting the critical congenital heart disease screening, for any injury, illness, and/or consequences which may result from refusal.
(C) Except as provided in paragraph (D) of this rule, a completed copy of the objection form or written statement will be sent to the Ohio department of health within ten days of completion.
(D) If the parent, guardian, or custodian of a newborn or infant objects to a critical congenital heart disease screening and refuses to sign the form or written statement, the hospital or freestanding birthing center will document the parent's, guardian's, or custodian's refusal to sign the objection form or written statement.
(E) Each hospital, freestanding birthing center, and newborn care nursery will report the refusal to consent to the critical congenital heart disease screening in accordance with rule 3701-54-04 of the Administrative Code.
Last updated October 16, 2025 at 7:27 AM
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