Saturday, July 16, 2011

I'm a medical student with a paper to write and I would like opinions on hiv/aids in the work place


I'm a medical student with a paper to write and I would like opinions on hiv/aids in the work place?
I know that is a very controversial subject but this is a paper for my law and ethics class and my topic is whom should know your status. I want to add some opinions rather than my own (pros and cons) into my paper. I would like to hear from as many people as I possible can.
STDs - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
HIV/AIDS is in the workplace, and that can't be changed. Who needs to be notified? Unless you're taking extra time off for dealing with the medical problems that can accompany HIV/AID, no one. All employees should be aware of universal precautions and should be using them any time that any employee is inured or falls ill at work. Doing anything less puts any employee at risk for all kind of things, from a minor skin infection to HIV and Hep of any kind.
2 :
I will assume that how you define "hiv/aids in the work place" is people that aquired HIV by the the accepted modes of transmission-- i.e. sexual intercourse or IV drug use primarily as noted by the CDC, and not necessarily acquisition of HIV from a persons occupational risks. However, is interesting to note that that personel at the forefront of HIV exposure, the medical establishment, is low according to the CDC. Taken from CDC surveillance- "Adults reported with AIDS and a *history of employment* in healthcare, where job is known, by occupation, as of December 2002, Total 23,212. (emphasis mine) "Of the adults reported with AIDS in the United States through December 31, 2002, 24,844 had a history of employment in healthcare . These cases represented 5.1% of the 486,826 AIDS cases reported to CDC for whom occupational information was known (information on employment was missing for 362,954 reported AIDS cases)." Note- This doesnt not necessarily indicate weather or not HIV was occupationally aquired or by other means of accepted modes of transmission. "Healthcare personnel with *documented and possible* occupationally acquired AIDS/HIV infection, by occupation, as of December 2002." Totals- Documented *57*, Possible *139*. (emphasis mine) http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/bp_hiv_hp_with.html I suppose the people that thumbed my answer down believe 57 is a huge number. If HIV/AIDS among medical personel isnt pertinent, then why would it be anywhere else?
3 :
THE ILO CODE OF PRACTICE The ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work provides a set of guidelines, based on international standards, that aim to help safeguard conditions of decent work and protect the rights and dignity of workers and all people living with HIV/AIDS. The Code of Practice was formally launched at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in June 2001. It has received the support of the UN Secretary-General and the UN system, and of corporations, labour organizations and NGOs. The Code of Practice was produced in response to numerous requests for guidance, especially from employers. It provides principles and practical guidelines from which concrete responses can be developed at company, community and national levels. Key principles include: • no discrimination in employment related to HIV status (real or perceived); • continuation of employment, regardless of HIV status; • confidentiality in a healthy and safe work environment; • gender equality as the basis of interventions for prevention and care; • voluntary testing with counselling, but no screening for employment or recruitment; and • the need for social dialogue, prevention programmes, and care and support as the basis for addressing the epidemic in the workplace. This is part of a paper that was published in 2003 by the UNAIDS: You can get the whole PDF publication by following this link. http://www.unaids.org/Publications/IRC/-pub06/JC1008-Business_en.pdf You will need the PDF document reader.
4 :
When I was diagnosed in 2005, I asked the same question and the response was: Doctors, nurses, Dentists and other people giving you first aid. Other than that, it is up to you. I have told my family, my boss, a few friends and any one I would have sex with which is one. It isn't that I am afraid to be known as HIV +, it is more like I don't want to be treated any different than what I was before. But the biggest thought is, I want those that might get it not to get it from me. I don't want anyone else to go through the mental, physical, emotional and financial pains I have.




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Posted by HIV/AIDS at 8:56 AM