HIV testing - A standard part of your yearly physical

[Coramoor]

I don't know everything that goes into a physical currently...but wouldn't it make more sense to make about a hundred other tests standard before even considering HIV?

For instance Hep?

[neosoul]

Originally Posted by Coramoor

I don't know everything that goes into a physical currently...but wouldn't it make more sense to make about a hundred other tests standard before even considering HIV?

For instance Hep?

I applaud the CDC for wanting to promote awareness but I don't think making it a part of your physical is such a great idea, my #1 reasoning being that it takes away anonymity of who's -ve or +ve (hmm maybe that's the CDC's goal). Your dr will HAVE to report it to Health Department, and you can forget about being discreet.

I say include it in the physical, but let the patient decide if they want it done or not

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by neosoul

I say include it in the physical, but let the patient decide if they want it done or not

I agree with this.

[valkyrie]

Dear government,

You have no part in deciding what goes on during any medical exams I will ever have, but thanks for offering!

XOXO,
valkyrie

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by neosoul

my #1 reasoning being that it takes away anonymity of who's -ve or +ve (hmm maybe that's the CDC's goal).

I don't see the negative side of loosing anonymity...but then again, I'll freely admit that I believe that if someone who is knowingly HIV+ has sex with someone and doesn't tell them that they are HIV+ and the other person contracts it, they should be charged with manslaughter.

[tunatartare]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I don't see the negative side of loosing anonymity...but then again, I'll freely admit that I believe that if someone who is knowingly HIV+ has sex with someone and doesn't tell them that they are HIV+ and the other person contracts it, they should be charged with manslaughter.

There was a Law & Order episode about this. A guy who had AIDS and was fully aware of this had sex with as many girls as possible and afterwards told them that he wanted them to get infected as well.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

There was a Law & Order episode about this. A guy who had AIDS and was fully aware of this had sex with as many girls as possible and afterwards told them that he wanted them to get infected as well.

I don't know if I've seen that one. What was the verdict??

[tunatartare]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I don't know if I've seen that one. What was the verdict??

It looked like he was going to be found guilty, but I don't remember if there was a verdict. At the end of the episode he was hospitalized and told that he had a year left to live though.

[OtterXO]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I don't know if I've seen that one. What was the verdict??

I feel compelled to remind people that Law & Order is not really an accurate source for information regarding law.

As for the original topic, I have a problem with being forced to submit myself to any test that I don't want. But I don't think that's the case here. If it's just included in the whole co-pay for my yearly physical I don't really have a problem with it. I believe you can elect which bloodwork you want done anyway and HIV testing would fall under that same umbrella. So although your doctor may "recommend" HIV testing as part of your yearly physical, you don't have to do it.

ETA:

The CDC recommendations update guidelines released in 1993 and suggest:

• A voluntary "opt out" approach. Patients would be told that HIV testing is part of routine care but could decline the test, just as they can decline to be tested for cholesterol.

This is from the article. After looking at it I have no problem with the recommendation.

[KSigkid]

The CDC can recommend it, I'm just not sure if I want a whole lot of money being spent in forcing physicians and hospitals to implement this. If individual hospitals and clinics are in favor of this plan, they can accept it and use their own (or the money from their trustees) money for it.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

The CDC can recommend it, I'm just not sure if I want a whole lot of money being spent in forcing physicians and hospitals to implement this. If individual hospitals and clinics are in favor of this plan, they can accept it and use their own (or the money from their trustees) money for it.

Just in case someone has not seen or heard about this, the following link is directly to CDC's site:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/testin...care/index.htm
While whole page is worth reading, this is the link to FAQ/Q&A:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/testin...ral-public.htm
The report I heard, IIRC, indicated that this only a recommendation. BUT any of their recommendations carry a great deal of wieght on what the medical industry does .

As for me, I get tested every time I go to the blood bank.......part of FDA regs.

[Eggroll]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I don't see the negative side of loosing anonymity...but then again, I'll freely admit that I believe that if someone who is knowingly HIV+ has sex with someone and doesn't tell them that they are HIV+ and the other person contracts it, they should be charged with manslaughter.

I said the same thing for the longest time but not anymore.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Eggroll

I said the same thing for the longest time but not anymore.

Well, apparently at least the legislators of SC agree with me. I found out after talking with my mom, who does AIDS counseling in SC, that you CAN be charged with manslaughter for infecting someone with AIDS if you don't give them prior warning. She has a client that was convicted. I'm not sure if other states have this same legislation, though.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by neosoul

I applaud the CDC for wanting to promote awareness but I don't think making it a part of your physical is such a great idea, my #1 reasoning being that it takes away anonymity of who's -ve or +ve (hmm maybe that's the CDC's goal). Your dr will HAVE to report it to Health Department, and you can forget about being discreet.

I say include it in the physical, but let the patient decide if they want it done or not

From CDC site (see link in my posting ):
How will my privacy be protected?
HIV test results fall under the same strict privacy rules as all of your medical information, including those for other sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Information about your HIV test cannot be released without your permission. If your test shows you are infected with HIV, this information will be reported to the state health department, like other STD results. After all personal information about you (name, address, etc) is removed, this information, in turn, is forwarded to the CDC. CDC uses this information to keep track of HIV/AIDS in the United States and to direct funding and resources where they are needed the most. CDC does not share this information with anyone else, including insurance companies.

[honeychile]

Hippa doesn't cover insurance companies - they know more about your health than you probably do.

But for the most part, I'm all for it, along with testing for Hep C. Most people don't realize that even blood from a Hep C infected person that has been dry for a week is active and can still infect someone else.