This might sound callous, but I'm looking for the scientific answer?

Question

It seems to me that prolonging the life of a person with HIV/AIDS only gives that person more time to spread the disease. Is there a program to make sure that the people who are given these drug "cocktails" understand how important it is to be responsible and stuff with regards to spreading the disease? Is there a way to hold them accountable? What about 3rd world countries where the women are having their second or 3rd HIV infected baby, but they are receiving life prolonging drugs. I know it sounds rude and cruel, but I'm trying to understand the benefit vs the drawbacks to society and research.

Answer 1

1. Programs which provide health care to HIV-positive people do, in fact, emphasize the importance of both "safe sex" and other personal activities which could cause the spread of the diease, e.g. blood donation, notifying potential sex partners, getting pregnant, etc. Of course, this applies to those living in the high-tech world.

2. In order to hold someone accountable for transmission of the disease would mean a person must notify a central agency every single time s/he has sex and indicate with whom the sex occured. (Can you imagine the bueaucratic nightmare this would cause, even ignoring anything else?)

3. The vast majority of people in 3rd world or developing countries do *not* receive modern life-prolonging drugs. They also do *not* necessarily receive good education about what causes HIV infections or how to prevent them. There are still groups which believe AIDS can be cured by having sex with a virgin. People believe that the antiviral drugs are designed to make them sterile and allow other groups to take over thier lands.

4. Risk vs. Benefit analysis is, unfortunately in your scenario, dependent upon someone defining what a "benefit" is. I assume your 'risk' is simply the potential of spreading the disease & the subsequent financial cost associated with diagnosis, treatment and medical support of the infected people. What would you consider a benefit of providing drugs to these people?

You cannot logically state that this practice is detrimental for society unless you can objectively and concretely state what the positive outcomes might be.

Answer 2

In the U.S. it's illegal to intentionally spread this disease by having unprotected sex and not informing your partner. I would hope that people in this country who are HIV/AIDS infected would be responsible enough to take precautions to ensure safety of others.
In third world countries, the problem is lack of understanding of the disease. These individuals need to be educated. A lot of the women you are describing, are not aware that they have the disease or they don't understand modern medicine that well.
I understand why you are asking these questions, and I don't really have an answer for you. I think the intention of the drug cocktails was to prolong life in these patients. Just like any other disease. The problems you are talking about have to ddo with irresponsibility and not so much the disease itself.

Answer 3

we have no choice when it comes to prolonging hiv positive lives,we cannot lock them away,that would be unfair.in the third world countries where aids first began about 1973,men and woman who had many sexual partners and spread the disease world wide.these are the people dying of it now,but have left the disease to spread further,in these countries where people ,especially babies die every day from starvation and people are so poor sexual intercourse is there way of living and passing time.i dont think your statement is cruel or rude.i live in australia and it is a criminal offence for anybody who passes on hiv deliberately will go to jail,sorry about being a bit long winded with the answer,as their is no real answer to the problem.

Answer 4

Women if Africa are not recieving the life saving drug, that is why there are so many orphans in Africa.
The African government does not educate their citizens on how to avoid aids. Infact, they deny that aids comes from HIV, instead, they say it comes from poverty, therefore increasing the prejudges, and keeping people from seeking help (condoms), or talking about the illness.
As far as Americans spreading the illness, you should assume that if an American has hiv, he is doing everything he can to stay healthy and of course, he understands the responsibility of not spreading it. What would you suggest? We stop giving the life saving drug?
I think you need to learn empathy-sorry if that sounds callous.

Answer 5

Well, I do in fact know someone who has HIV and Hep C who has slept with several women since he found out he had it. These women obviously have NO idea or they wouldn't be putting themselves at risk. Not only this but he kisses his dear old grandmother on the face - she always goes for the lips when she's giving her family kisses (you know how some elderly people do).

I don't know, perhaps they should put a visible marker on them so that people can be aware.

It's a bit like drunk driving - what do you do to stop people being bloody idiots.

Answer 6

Simply put, just because a person is sick doesn't mean that it's ok to let them die. I believe that people who know they have HIV/AIDS fully understand the gravity of the situation and do not try to pass it on just for fun, at least in this country. I don't know about Africa.

Answer 7

I do know, that if you have HIV/AIDS and intentionally have unprotected sex with someone and not tell them... you can be sued and sent to jail.. thats here in the U.S.

http://wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=25&sid=611971

and just because they have the disease doesnt mean the should be treated differently or simply let to die.. everyone deserves a chance...

Answer 8

It's the same as prolonging the life of someone who has cancer. You do it so you can live longer.

Answer 9

they can only prolong the inevitable so long... and i don't believe people should continue to breed knowing instead of life their starting off on their child(ren) with a death sentence.

Answer 10

Why not just kill all the stupid people like yourself while were at it.