NCJ Number
111806
Journal
American Journal of Law and Medicine Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (1987) Pages: 7-53
Date Published
1987
Length
47 pages
Annotation
This article examines compulsory testing and screening programs to detect exposure to the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), assesses legal and public policy justifications for screening specific populations, and sets general criteria for assessing the merits of screening programs.
Abstract
The terms 'testing' and 'screening' are defined as they refer to the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and supplementary tests. Proposed criteria for assessing mandatory population screening are presented. These focus on high reservoir of infection, significant risk of transmission, effective use of test results to reduce the spread of infection, critical consequences for the individual, and use of less intrusive means. Selected populations for screening include military personnel, school populations, patients at centers for the treatment of sexually transmitted disease and intravenous drug use, prisons, health care patients and staff, and premarital couples. Individual confidentiality and public health issues are discussed including duty to protect third parties and State reporting requirements. 239 footnotes.