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On Friday, Gov. Deval Patrick signed
into law an HIV testing bill that he said “will lead to more lives being
saved.” The measure eliminates the need for physicians to obtain patients’
written consent for testing; instead, only verbal consent is needed. “By
removing barriers to screening, we will continue to decrease rates of HIV in
our communities,” Patrick said.
The law brings Massachusetts in line
with 2006 CDC recommendations that states update their laws to make HIV testing
more routine and common. General consent for medical care, which covers
screenings for most conditions, also should be sufficient for HIV testing,
according to federal health officials.
But some doctors’ groups remain
critical of the law, noting it still requires a patient’s written informed
consent each time HIV-related information is shared. That means a physician
must obtain written consent before talking with another provider about issues
such as medicines, which the doctors say creates a barrier.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
