Should AIDS patients have a notification on their ID's?
HIV is a virus that damages human immune cells, weakens the immune system, and without treatment develops into AIDS. HIV infects the cells of a living organism in order to make copies of itself. The virus can only be transmitted in certain ways. HIV is found in blood and other body fluids. It can't live for long outside the body.
The most common ways that people become infected with HIV are:
* having sexual intercourse with an infected partner
* injecting drugs using a needle/syringe thats been used by an infected person
* as a baby of an infected mother, during pregnancy, labor or delivery, or through breastfeeding.
Up until December 2006, their were 57 reported occupational HIV infections. Additionally, 140 possible occupational transmissions have accured among health care personnel.
If precautions are taken with everyone, healthcare workers don't have to make assumptions about people's lifestyles and risk of infection. Health care workers should have the right to be able to protect themselves against infection, whether it is HIV, Hepatitis, or any contagious disease.
Consider the case below.
"I am a lab tech. I worked 11-7 shift for the past 9 and a half years. My job includes drawing blood, testing blood and urine samples in a hospital laboratory, and preparing blood transfusions for patients who need blood products. On 12/31/1993 at 3:55 a.m. I was called to the emergency room to draw blood on a HIV+ drug abuser, it seems she was out of cash but wanted more 'pain meds". The doctors wanted blood tests first to find out what was she sick with. I ended up trying to draw her blood and she became violent, jerking her arm around after I had a needle in her veinand was getting blood out of her arm. She managed to get the dirty needle and stabbed it into my left thumb. When I saw that needle in my hand I felt a chill go down my spine and dreaded I would become positive too.
"Well by March of 1994 I was HIV+. Since then I have tried many of the HIV meds on the market. Many have given me allergic reactions, some have simply been ineffective, others the virus has grown resistant to. It's a month to month battle. So far my t counts are holding and my viral load is between non detected and 10,000. I am married and had a son aged 18 months at the time I was infected. He's now 9.5 years old and the pride of my life. How can I ever tell him mom may not be around much longer? On October 28, 2000 we were blessed with the birth of a daughter. Beautiful is her description by anyone who has seen her. Tonight I received the results of her 1 year HIV test. It is positive."
As of 2008, 36 states in America criminalized the transmission of exposure of HIV, with many having laws specifically mentioning HIV:
* Alabama- Class C misdemenour
* California- Felony punishable by up to 8 years
* Colorado- Class 5 and 6 felonies
* Flordia
* Michigan
* Missouri- Class A or B felony
* New York- Reckless endangerment
* Pennsylvania- Reckless endangerment
* Texas- Aggravated assault
Because people with HIV/AIDS often choose to hide their condition and to protect those who care for the sick, people with HIV/AIDS or any other contagious disease that can harm health care workers should have a symbol or code on their ID.
Lynettes opinion
I agree with you. I think that if you have this disease or virus healthcare workers should know. It is scary to think that people are more willing to infect healthcare workers than tell them because of privacy. My sister is a nurse and it is a scary situation to think that she has to worry about this all the time. Good job guys, very good points.
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