DID YOU KNOW...
"There are two main things that can be done to help families cope with the burden of HIV. The first is to provide treatment to family-members who are infected. Although antiretroviral drugs are still not widely available in many resource-poor areas, a child’s family-members may be able to reach a clinic or hospital that can provide these drugs. Treatment access is slowly improving in resource-poor countries, but much more money and effort will be needed if the situation is to improve. In sub-Saharan Africa, for instance, only around 44% of people in need of treatment are receiving it.
The second thing that can be done is to provide family members who are not infected with HIV with knowledge and resources – such as condoms – that can help them to stay uninfected. HIV prevention campaigns, whether run by the government, local groups, or international organisations, can help to bring these things to families and their communities".
Berry, S(July 28, 2009). HIV/AIDS and children. In Avert. Retrieved October 14,2009 fromhttp://www.avert.org/children.htm
EXTRA...
Canada confidentiality laws
Code of ethics of the Canadian Medical Association requires all physicians to:
"Respect the patient’s right to confidentiality
except when this right conflicts with your
responsibility to the law, or when the maintenance
of confidentiality would result in a significant
risk of substantial harm to others or to the
patient if the patient is incompetent; in such
cases, take all reasonable steps to inform the
patient that confidentiality will be breached" (Canadian HIV/AIDS, 2009).
"Respect the patient’s right to confidentiality
except when this right conflicts with your
responsibility to the law, or when the maintenance
of confidentiality would result in a significant
risk of substantial harm to others or to the
patient if the patient is incompetent; in such
cases, take all reasonable steps to inform the
patient that confidentiality will be breached" (Canadian HIV/AIDS, 2009).
The "public safety exception" to confidentiality:
"A health-care professional’s duty of confidentiality to apatient is not absolute. In Smith v Jones (1999), theSupreme Court of Canada found that a physician’s duty
of confidentiality is subject to a “public safety exception.”
A physician (or counsellor or other health-careprofessional) may breach a duty of confidentiality
owed to a client or patient where:
1. there exists a clear risk to an identifiable person orgroup of persons;
2. the risk is that serious bodily harm or death mayoccur;
3. the danger is imminent; and
4. the proposed disclosure will minimally impair the
privacy right of the patient" (Canadian HIV/AIDS, 2009).
This website is very informative check it out http://www.aidslaw.ca/publications/interfaces/downloadFile.php?ref=187
undefined. (2004). Canadian HIV/AIDS legal network. In Privacy protection and the disclosure of the health information: legal issues for people living with HIV/AIDS in Canada.. Retrieved October 14, 2009, from
I would turn those nurse in for their behavior. They had no right to treat you that way regardless of the test being for a class assignment. Didn't they realize that you now have information that could be very valuable to you? Whether or not you take a test to find out for personal reasons, class or because you suspect you may be infected, all individuals have the right to be treated with respect. I imagine they kept you hanging on purpose, but I don't understand why. There response to your question of what they would have said if you were there to be tested for any other reason was unacceptable. I sure hope that testing wasn't done in the State of Florida.
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! I can't believe they treated you that way. That sucks! My experience wasn't like that, they were nice to me and I got the counceling I need, but I still haven't got my results back yet.
ReplyDeleteIm am sorry you had such a bad experience at the Health Department. I went to the same one and they were not that bad to me. Those two week were so stressful I mean this was not my first time being tested but I am just as nervous every time I take an HIV test. Then of course teach would not allow us to take the rapid test. Well my results were also negative.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that you were treated that way. Regardless, if you were there for school or not the results could affect you the same as the others. My experience was quite the opposite. As soon as the nurse found out I was there for school she began questioning about my course and why I was required to take the test. She even suggested I get tested for other STD's while I was there.
ReplyDeleteWow! I cannot believe that you were treated that way. I went to the Health Department closest to me and was treated with respect - even after I mentioned that I was there for a school project since I have already previously had three tests done and all were negative. My counselor still went through all the information regardless. My nurse treated me the same way after she found out as well. That is such a shame. I am sorry that you had to go through that.
ReplyDelete