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New State Law Threatens Relationship Between Doctor and AIDS Patients
Dr. Marcus Conant, one of America's most respected AIDS care physicians, angrily denounced a new California law forcing him to break a basic confidence between himself and patients who are people with AIDS. The new law, signed on April 17 by Governor Schwarzenegger, requires, for the first time, that names of people infected with AIDS be reported to local, state and Federal health care agencies.
"Blackmail, pure and simple" is how Conant describes the law. To provide names, he said, serves no medical need. "This decision was political, not medical," he said. The State of California had little choice. Failure to follow the new Federal guidelines could cause California to lose millions in Federal AIDS funding, primarily through the Ryan White Act.
Requesting clarification from the state Health Services Department, Conant was given three options.
The first option is to follow the state requirements.
The second option would be to continue to keep patient's information confidential. The consequence of such action is to face civil and criminal penalties, including imprisonment.
The third option is for Dr. Marcus Conant to stop practicing medicine.
25 years ago, on June 5, 1981, the first five cases of AIDS were reported by the Centers for Disease Control. The physician for two of those cases was Dr. Marus Conant. Since that time, he has been recognized as one of America's most respected physicians caring for people with AIDS.
Read More
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=3240#more
Requesting clarification from the state Health Services Department, Conant was given three options.
The first option is to follow the state requirements.
The second option would be to continue to keep patient's information confidential. The consequence of such action is to face civil and criminal penalties, including imprisonment.
The third option is for Dr. Marcus Conant to stop practicing medicine.
25 years ago, on June 5, 1981, the first five cases of AIDS were reported by the Centers for Disease Control. The physician for two of those cases was Dr. Marus Conant. Since that time, he has been recognized as one of America's most respected physicians caring for people with AIDS.
Read More
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=3240#more
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