Re: Medicos oppose legislation on safeguarding rights of HIV patients

[Guest guest]

This is in response to the mail " Medicos oppose legislation on safeguarding

rights of HIV patients "

It is very unfortunate that even after 20 years with HIV our doctors -esp

leaders of the profession from a metropolis like Bombay subscribe to such

erroneous ideas.

" We are extra cautious about not disclosing the HIV status of the patient.

However, most of the times, we are forced to segregate patients because the

relatives of other patients find out about the status. "

If some body is extra cautious how does other people know? Please note that

there are hospitals in India which can keep secrets & train staff to keep

confidentiality. Remember most of our doctors don't do HIV testing before

surgery (they don't observe universal precautions too).

There is too much hullabaloo about HIV kit also .Universal precaution does

not mean using space suit for surgery. I am sure this kind of arguments were

there when doctors were instructed to use aseptic precautions about 125 yr

back.

The question is : are we doctors ready to change our behavior,

There are only 2 ways by which we can prevent HIV

1.Change your high risk behavior of unnecessary exposures (sexual or

surgical) and arguing against Universal precautions

2.Use proper barriers(condom/glove/footwear etc depending on the type of

exposure) .

" What is so sacrosanct about AIDS

patient?

If we doctors and our society are not discriminating there is nothing

sacrosanct about AIDS

Dr Ajithkumar.K

Sr Lecturer in Dermatology

Medical College Chest Hospital

MG Kav ,Thrissur,

Kerala,India

PH 0487-333322

E-mail: <trc_ajisudha@...>

[Guest guest]

In response to the mail " Medicos oppose legislation on safeguarding

rights of HIV patients " :

I think it will be useful to ponder on some of the comments made and questions

raised during a recent training program of medical specialists held at St.

's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, coordinated by Karnataka

State AIDS Prevention Society and the India-Canada Collaborative HIV/AIDS

Project:.

" Barber training and doctor training began at around the same time. Much more

resources went into the latter. However, most barbers in our region now use a

new blade for every client. I cannot say the same of the doctors and their use

of universal or standard precautions! " .

" How many of us doctors who do 'universal testingof HIV ' for all patients will

be willing to undergo periodic HIV testing ourselves? How many of us are ready

to put up a notice declaring that the doctor is HIV negative and therefore does

not pose any risk to his patients or vice versa? "

Dr Reynold Washington MD,DNB

Program Officer: India Canada Collaborative HIV/AIDS Project

Associate Professor: St. 's Medical College, Bangalore

E-mail: <reynold_ichap@...>