Officials: Test All Americans For HIV

CDC Hopes To Catch Infections Earlier And Stop Spread Of Virus

(CBS/AP)  But the recommendations were endorsed by the American Medical Association, which urged physicians to comply.

"This is important public health strategy to stop the spread of HIV," Dr. Nancy Nielsen, a Buffalo, New York-based physician who sits on the AMA's governing board, said in a statement.

Previously, the CDC recommended routine testing for those at high risk for catching the virus, such as intravenous drug users and gay men, and for hospitals and certain other institutions serving areas where HIV is common. It also recommends testing for all pregnant women.

Under the new guidelines, patients would be tested for HIV as part of a standard battery of tests they receive when they go for urgent or emergency care, or even during a routine physical.

Patients would not get tested every year: Repeated, annual testing would only be recommended only for those at high risk.

There would be no consent form specifically for the HIV test; it would be covered in a clinic or hospital's standard care consent form. Patients would be allowed to decline the testing.

CDC officials have been working on revised recommendations for about three years, and sought input from more than 100 organizations, including doctors' associations and HIV patient advocacy groups. The CDC presented planned revisions at a scientific conference in February.

Since then, the CDC has strengthened language on informed consent to make sure that no one is tested without their knowledge, and emphasized the need for doctors to provide information on HIV tests and the meaning of positive and negative results.

[commonvoter]

The cost adside, my question is why would this country try again to legislate against the right of individual to decide if and when to be tested for what!! This on top of the effort to make it manditory for young girls to be immunized for cerivcal cancer when the injection has no history as to safety and effectivness.

Does our Bill of Rights only apply in our minds?

[karen091866]

I've worked hospice/terminal care as a nurse for many years--and to watch anyone die from this disease is devastating.

People (the 'Powers that Be') are simply desperate & frantic to try to find any way possible to put a cap on the damages & devastation this disease causes.

Regardless of socioeconomic status, persons battling this disease require intense (and expensive) medical care. The medications, the cost of PPE (personal protective equipment..for caregivers) and other endless things, like special equipment once the person becomes weakened, i.e. wheelchair, hospital-style bed...the list goes on & on---all of those things are NECESSARY regardless of the person's ability to pay for the care.

Someone absorbs those costs. Humane and compassionate care HAS to be provided--and with that, comes a price tag. (As with most everything in life)

People really need to get a grip. HIV/AIDS is not a *** or homosexual disease---it's EVERYONE's problem. Talk about prevention or attempts at containment freak people out & get everyone's feathers in a ruffle because one mode of transmission is sexual contact.

Get over it. Would everyone freaking out over the possibility of this testing be reacting the same if the testing were for POLIO or MALARIA?

Doubtful.

[starlady2]

Yet another excuse for involuntary human experimentation for the gain and benefit of the pharmaceutical tycoons! This country is adopting more and more Communist policies!

[cricket056]

If they are telling us to get tested for HIV, then I hope this test is being paid for by the goverment.The testing I have done on a regular basis is expensive enough without being told I have to pay for yet another. I do agree that more people should be tested, but at the same time there are many who are on a fixed income and can't afford the fee of another test.

[oigen]

Under no circumstances should anyone allow themselves to be tested lest one wants to be condemned to a life of abject misery. Be aware that the test kit manufacturers themselves are unsure as to the validity of test results and state so in test kit information inserts.
See.... http://snipurl.com/wsj9