NCJ Number
115377
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Between 1983 and 1988 more than 50 nations have introduced legal measures that specifically address AIDS and that recognize the role of health legislation in minimizing the spread of the virus.
Abstract
Several other nations have extended to AIDS case various provisions of existing laws such as public health codes and communicable disease statutes. Early laws addressed only AIDS or AIDS patients. Currently laws often refer to HIV, AIDS-related complex, and high-risk groups. Laws also began with blood donors as the target group and now address other groups such as prostitutes, intravenous drug users, and even homosexuals. As awareness grew of the issue of false negatives and false positives in test results, legislatures responded by requiring confirmatory testing. The three broad categories of laws are 1) product-related laws; 2) laws related to behavior and attitudes, and 3) laws oriented to institutions. Product-related laws seek to protect supplies of blood, semen, tissue, organs, and even breast milk. Laws related to behavior and attitudes focus on sexual behavior, compulsory screening, quarantine, contact tracing and deportation. Laws oriented to institutions seek to promote research, education, counseling, and patient care. Some laws have been so restrictive that they have encroached the rights of individuals, resulting in more cautious approaches in other nations. Further legislation based on careful evaluation of its validity and feasibility is likely. 5 references.