Backgrounder and Info Sheets on Testing for PEP

[Guest guest]

Backgrounder and Info Sheets on Testing for PEP

===============================================================

Now Available: Backgrounder and Info Sheets on Testing of Persons

Believed to be the Source of an Occupational Exposure to HBV, HCV or

HIV

=============================================================

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network wishes to announce that a series

of info sheets and a 40-page backgrounder on " Testing of Persons

Believed to be the Source of an Occupational Exposure to HBV, HCV, or

HIV " are now available in English and French on its website at:

http://www.aidslaw.ca/Maincontent/issues/testing.htm

These documents contain a review of the issues regarding occupational

exposure to infectious diseases and the benefits and harms of

compulsory testing of source persons.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, there have been renewed calls for compulsory testing

of persons who are believed to be the source of an occupational

exposure to HBV, HBC and HIV and who refuse to test voluntarily. Bill

C-217 (formerly Bill C-244), a private members bill currently before

the Canadian federal Parliament, would authorize court-ordered

testing of a source person where there are reasonable grounds to

believe that a health-care worker, firefighter, peace officer,

security officer or " good samaritan " may have been infected in coming

to the aid of that person. In Ontario, a similar private member's

bill (Bill 105: Health Protection and Promotion Amendment

Act, 2001), passed 1st and 2nd reading in the Ontario legislature

during the first week of October and has gone to the provincial

parliament's Committee on Justice and Social Policy.

Calls for compulsory testing raise a number of issues regarding

occupational exposure to infectious diseases:

- How are HBV, HCV, and HIV transmitted in occupational settings, and

what are the risks of transmission?

- What are the consequences of an exposure for the worker, and how

should the worker be supported?

- Is post-exposure prophylaxis available, and, if so, what are the

risks associated with post-exposure prophylaxis?

- What are the capabilities of existing testing technologies, and

what are their limitations, with regard to managing exposures?

- How will information about the source person' serological status,

risk factors, and medical history benefit the exposed worker?

- How many source persons consent voluntarily to provide such

information, and what could be done to encourage source persons to

consent?

- What are the harms of compelling source persons to be tested and of

disclosing the results of the test to the exposed worker?

- What policies and procedures are currently in place to prevent and

manage accidental occupational exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV, and

how could they be improved?

The Legal Network's backgrounder and series of info sheets

comprehensively address these issues. They demonstrate that more

could (and must) be done to prevent occupational exposure, support

workers, and obtain voluntary consent for testing from source

persons, without having recourse to compulsory testing.

It is hoped that the documents will generate discussion and informed

debate, and the implementation of sound policies and procedures for

the prevention and management of occupational exposure.

HOW DO I GET COPIES?

The backgrounder, series of info sheets, and other information on

HIV/AIDS and occupational exposure are available on the Network's

website at http://www.aidslaw.ca/Maincontent/issues/testing.htm.

Hard copies of the backgrounder and series of info sheets can be

obtained from the Canadian HIV/AIDS Clearinghouse (1565 Carling

Avenue, Suite 400, Ottawa ON, K1Z 8R1; tel: 877 999 7740 or 613 725

3434; fax: 613 725 1205;

email: aidssida@c...; web site: www.clearinghouse.cpha.ca).

For further information on the Legal Network's new resources and on

further activities the Network plans in this area, please contact

Ralf Jürgens at ralfj@a...

__________________________________________________________________

CANADIAN HIV/AIDS LEGAL NETWORK - RÉSEAU JURIDIQUE CANADIEN VIH/sida

417, rue Saint-Pierre, suite 408, Montréal (Québec) Canada H2Y 2M4

tel: 514.397.6828 # 224

fax: 514.397.8570

email: info@a...

web: www.aidslaw.ca

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network is a charitable organization

engaged in education, legal and ethical analysis, and policy

development.

In recognition of the global nature of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the

Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and the AIDS Law Project of South

Africa (http://www.hri.ca/partners/alp/) have entered into a

partnership to achieve their respective missions, goal and

objectives._