HIV Is Still An Exceptional Disease, Gregory Herek, University of California--Davis (2006)

Gregory Herek, a University of California--Davis professor nationally known for his work on HIV stigma and homophobia, states in this piece that knowing one's HIV status is a good thing, provided the patient can effectively use the information. HIV-infected people need to be able to obtain ongoing treatment (including, but not limited to, medications), and need to be able to take steps to protect their sexual partners from infection. Those who test negative need to understand that they can still get infected, e.g., if they engage in unprotected sex or share needles. Responding to the September 2006 CDC guidelines on routine HIV testing, Herek comments that by eliminating written consent and pre-test counseling, it’s all too easy to imagine that patients in busy emergency rooms will be tested without really agreeing to it and without being adequately prepared for the results. The CDC guidelines give insufficient attention to the importance of informed consent, pre-test counseling, and the reality that AIDS remains a stigmatized disease. The Herek essay, posted here, can also be found on his web site, along with multiple other excellent resources.