A.I.D.S. Met With Flurry Of Laws (Press, 26 June 1986)

At a recent conference in Paris, experts gathered to discuss the growing spread of A.I.D.S. and the surrounding ethical and legal dilemmas. Sev Floss, the head of the legislation unit at the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.), highlighted that the disease has prompted a significant number of legal actions globally. About 20 countries have enacted various laws related to A.I.D.S., covering aspects such as the notification of cases to health authorities, the classification of A.I.D.S. as a venereal disease, and measures to safeguard blood banks and enhance public education. Floss remarked that the legal implications of A.I.D.S. might be among the most sensitive issues the world has faced in the last two decades, alongside abortion. W.H.O. estimates suggest that up to 100,000 individuals may currently be afflicted with A.I.D.S. worldwide, with an additional five million potentially being healthy carriers of the virus. It is noted that while many carriers do not exhibit symptoms, studies indicate that between 5 to 30 per cent may eventually develop A.I.D.S. This raises significant concerns over testing for A.I.D.S. antibodies, as confidentiality issues might lead to discrimination against those diagnosed or identified as carriers. Raymond Jacobs from New York's Gay Men’s Health Crisis counselling centre pointed out a growing trend in the United States towards promoting testing. Insurance companies have begun to use such information to determine eligibility for insurance coverage. Jacobs advised against testing for gay and bisexual men unless necessary due to pregnancy concerns, citing fears of compromised confidentiality. Contrastingly, Swedish scientists have reported that a law requiring the notification of positive A.I.D.S. tests has resulted in discovering about 1,000 cases, thereby bolstering public health measures while maintaining individuals' privacy. However, in the United States, public health officials like Mervin Silverman in San Francisco noted that irrational legislation is proposed, including mandatory blood tests for food workers and the quarantining of A.I.D.S. patients deemed likely to transmit the virus. Some states have even floated the idea of penalising A.I.D.S. carriers who fail to inform their healthcare providers. The conference also focused on the alarming spread of A.I.D.S. in Africa, where studies from Uganda and Tanzania indicate a devastating impact on rural populations. Research in Uganda suggests that approximately 30 per cent of patients treated in hospitals in certain rural areas may be infected with the virus, underscoring the urgency of addressing this public health crisis. Overall, the conference highlighted the critical need for coherent public policy and ethical guidelines in the face of a rapidly changing health landscape due to A.I.D.S.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand