Blog 4

I have been reflecting on our QOTW asking us what we would do if University of Central Florida allowed a policy that if the university were to find out that a student was having unprotected sex knowingly having AIDS, the university would be allowed to disclose the students personal information. This is actually, in my opinion, laughable. Patient-doctor confidentiality is law set in place for an individuals right to keep private personal health information. UCF allowing a students health information be revealed would be completely against the law, no matter who thought it was a good idea. Although it is a patients right to disclose their health information, it is against the law for an individual that knowingly has HIV to not their partner. “Laws and policies that criminalize negligent or willful exposure seek to deter individuals whose actions lead to exposure of others to HIV and potential transmission. The legal ramifications of exposing an uninfected individual to HIV differ depending on (a) intent; and (b) whether transmission of HIV occurs, although each element can be difficult to prove legally or epidemiologically.” 1
This is a hard topic to think about it because if you think about the person that is being exposed to HIV through a individual's poor decision not to inform their partner they are HIV positive is morally wrong and completely unfair to that person. Ethically, I would want for them to know and have a policy like that in place. But then again, it is not my place to be the person that does that. It is unfortunately something that only the HIV positive person should have the decency to tell.
Then I think about the decision for the HIV positive person's partner to willingly have unprotected sex knowing the many risks that come along with it. If we are going to point fingers, both individuals should be smart enough to know that if they do not know the other well enough they should not even be messing around with having unprotected sex. Partners should be activley involved in each others sexual past and sexual health issues.
I have recently had the opportunity to be an intern for the Florida Hospital at Eden which is a cancer spa. I have been helping them put together their 1 Year Anniversary Event, and have been offered to help with further events. When I met with the Developmental manager we talked about areas I might be interested in helping with. She told me about this event coming up with weekend called the Head Dress Ball that is geared towards HIV awareness. I got really excited about possibly being involved in this opportunity so I started to research the organization they come from and what they do. So to further go into my Did You Know section, I'm going to look at how Hope and Help helps HIV/AIDS prevention. Their mission statement is, "To save lives by eliminating the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to provide support, education and care for individuals living with the disease in the Central Florida community."2 Have you ever seen the posters that have ACTS AGAINST AIDS on them? I had but never knew what organization started it. ACTS AGAINST AIDS comes from Hope and Help to get the word out about HIV/AIDS and how the disease is spreading rapidly and is still incurable. "Hope and Help Center has operated its award-winning HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention Program since 1989. The program features extensive education and outreach efforts throughout Central Florida."2 For more information visit there website: http://hopeandhelp.org

1. Gable, Lance. (2007). Legal aspects of HIV/AIDS: a guide for policy and law reform. Washington: The World Bank. Retrieved September 28, 2009. http://books.google.com/books?id=J3pWlNggbV4C&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=law+for+withholding+being+HIV+positive+to+partner&source=bl&ots=CEXFID87sM&sig=UL-3yEvfeXfQyoZ3Ch9ImCX3Tyc&hl=en&ei=0ArCStamMdTS8Qay573-CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2#v=onepage&q=&f=false

2. Hope and Help. (2009). Retrieved September 28, 2009. http://hopeandhelp.org/about-us.asp