British Columbia: Responders Legislation

A measure introduced Monday in the Legislative Assembly would help emergency workers learn whether they had been exposed to diseases like HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

The bill would permit first responders and Good Samaritans who may have been exposed to disease by someone they were assisting to obtain a court order requiring that person to provide a bodily fluid sample for testing, if the sample is not given voluntarily.

It also would establish a presumption of disease exposure for first responders seeking workers’ compensation benefits. Those who help during emergencies must be supported, as they put their own lives at risk to help others, said Labor Minister Margaret MacDiarmid.

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.

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