[Vision2020] Health District HIV Gossip?

[Tbertruss at aol.com]

All:

Wayne wrote:

It has been speculated that some of what has been written will discourage 
people from being tested.  I see no evidence of this.  Quite the contrary.  
Several brave people have came forward in response to police requests.  The more 
information that is disseminated, the more people will realize the danger they 
may be in and/or the danger they may have or may be putting loved ones or 
others in.
------------------------
Wayne, wow!  

How would you see the evidence of the people who are afraid of being tested 
when they don't come forward and are not identified?  And how can you say with 
any empirical reliability that prosecuting the Mubito case on Vision2020 has 
not had a chilling effect regarding being HIV tested for some who do not want 
to take a chance that they will be connected to this event?  No doubt there are 
many in the Moscow/Pullman area who should be HIV tested that have nothing to 
do with Mubito.  You assume people will trust that the results of HIV tests 
are completely confidential, yet many people have a deep seated suspicion about 
information leaking out from doctors, and there is good evidence there are 
serious problems with doctor patient confidentiality, as you must know.

You present no solid statistical evidence that the serious legal problems a 
person might face after they discover they are HIV positive does not have a 
chilling effect on the thousands who need to be HIV tested, a chilling effect the 
Mubito case may in fact be having.  The fact that if you remain untested, you 
cannot be charged with a crime if you do transmit HIV, while if you are 
tested and are HIV positive, all that is required to bring charges is a claim by 
someone that you had sexual relations with them and did not inform them of your 
HIV status, may give pause to many when they consider being tested.

I realize this is not a rational point of view, but some look at the odds 
they may be HIV positive, shrug their shoulders, and figure they'd rather not 
take the risk of finding out with all the problems a positive test will generate.

I am certain, though I do not have solid statistical evidence before me for 
this statement, that many who should be HIV tested look at all the 
ramifications of receiving a positive test, involving legal issues, career, sex life, 
family and friendship, and think twice.

Of course I agree that nearly everyone should be HIV tested.  I almost lean 
toward mandatory HIV testing for everyone, but that can of worms I will not 
open now.

See my other post tonight on this subject, if you wish, on the damage to our 
legal system when cases are prosecuted in the media, or on list serves, for 
that matter, for a few more comments on why I think Vision2020 has been too 
"prosecutorial" in how the Mubito case has been presented.

Ted Moffett
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