Should HIV testing become mandatory?

Question

Clarification for those who've asked: it's possible that universal HIV testing of all Americans could become a reality in the not too terribly distant future.

Hence, the category ... it's a HUGE ethical dilemma.

Answer 1

Why should people be forced to be tested?

If you're going to be sexually active with different partners, then the smart thing to do would be to use prophylactics.

If you're dumb enough to not use protection, why should the system be blamed because it didn't require tests?

How far will society go to handing out personal acts to the government. I'm not saying the government is corrupt, but when people yield too much personal liberty to the government, then it becomes a dictatorship.

HIV doesn't affect one's job. AIDS might, in that work time may be affected by symptoms, but thats all.

Otherwise, protection is up to those needing the rubbers.

Answer 2

I am not sure what the rules are now, but when I got married we had to have a blood test. IT is one way to cover at least a portion of the people.
I am not clear on why it is an ethical question. How ethical would you feel if you got HIV from a partner?

There shouldn't be discrimadation in jobs. as long as a person can work. But in reality AIDS is a huge and dangerous epidemic....do we really want be "polititcally correct" and dead wrong at the same time..

For instance shots for kids and such have rid our country of many diseases. In the long run it has saved many lives.

It is those who choose to treat HIV and AIDS as a shhh shhhh sort of thing. That is called denial......the problem with denial is that it isn't immune to the virus.

Answer 3

Broad range testing is not a possibility. Certain people SHOULD be HIV tested. Health care providers, food workers, pregnant women and those applying to be married.

I believe that heath issues should remain private unless they will effect others. A person should know rather or not their intended spouse has HIV. A person with HIV should NOT be allowed to serve food. A health-care worker speaks for the position, HEALTH! A Mother-to-be should be tested (and is) for HIV.

Answer 4

While I understand your thought, I have to remind you that such a measure automatically becomes an invasion of privacy and ACLU would fight it. It also means that a National Registry would be needed, therefore a national ID card, therefore requiring all sorts of information, perhaps even DNA markers and could be used to curtail rights and freedoms...such as happened to the Jews in Nazi Germany....I think perhaps it is better to forego such a thing. Another point too is how we would be able to know if someone complied with the law...a tattoo?....a license....'Wait, I forgot my license...wait until I run home and get it before we have sex?' Then we have tourists visiting...what do we do with them? We also visit other countries and then return, perhaps with HIV...and we would have to be tested very often. A very impractical suggestion.

Answer 5

Mandatory for what? Becoming a teacher, working in the health care system, or simply being allowed to stay alive?

Answer 6

No it should not! This does not mean that I think people should not get tested which they should, it means I do not want the government to dictate peoples health care it is their body their choice just as it is our choice to have or not to have sexual relations with some one who has not been tested.

Answer 7

Yes.

Answer 8

if people were worried about it in the first place they wouldn't be cheating or messin round before marriage,everyone gets a blood test before you get married

Answer 9

I believe it should be mandatory for all pregnant women.

Answer 10

Seeing how it's so deadly, yes it should become mandatory.