49 Pa. Code § 23.115
To protect children from abuse, the reporting requirements of this chapter take precedence over provisions of the act as defined in § 23.1 (relating to definitions) and other ethical principles or professional standards that might otherwise apply to optometrists. In accordance with 23 Pa.C.S. § 6311.1 (relating to privileged communications), privileged communications between a mandated reporter and a patient do not apply to a situation involving child abuse and do not relieve the mandated reporter of the duty to make a report of suspected child abuse.
The provisions of this § 23.115 issued and amended under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(2); and section 3(b)(14) of the Optometric Practice and Licensure Act (63 P.S. § 244.3(b)(14)).
The provisions of this § 23.115 adopted November 8, 1996, effective November 9, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 5395; amended January 26, 2024, effective January 27, 2024, 54 Pa.B. 368. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (415625).