Why is it illegal to tell the public that an individual has an STD?

Question

I mean, wouldn't it save MORE lives if there was an easy way to be told if someone had an STD? An STD/AIDS test costs money which is why people don't really go through with all that trouble. But if there was an offical file (almost like a phone book) that was updated every year that told who had an STD, wouldn't that make life much easier for people who aren't infected?

There should be an annual government-paid test that everyone has to go through with. Don't do it and you go to jail (just like if you didn't do your taxes). No one should have a problem with it. If they don't have an STD, they have nothing to worry about. If they do then shouldn't people know...unless they were going to keep it from everyone and just spread it with every partner they had (which is illegal too). Either way, I don't see any good reason why the public shouldn't be warned about the people with STD's. Schoold HAVE to be warned when a child has the chicken pox or other contagious disease.

Answer 1

What about all the THOUSANDS of people who contracted a STD without being told about it? That's COMPLETELY unfair to them.

I personally contracted genital herpes and HPV from a man who didn't tell me he had either virus. So would it be fair for me to be punished and possibly go to jail for something I didn't do?

And, how about the women who are raped? Is it their fault they have a STD?

Doing this would just completely blacklist MILLIONS of people. It's absolutely NO ONES business if I or anyone else has a STD unless I am having sex or sexual contact with someone. Why should I and MILLIONS of others be blacklisted and looked down upon by family, friends, and co-workers? It's ridiculous.

And, like a person above mentioned, most STDs are NOT fatal! HIV/AIDS is the only STD that is fatal. There are others that can be, like syphilis or HPV (cervical cancer), but with treatment and proper screening this can usually be avoided.

Doing this would completely invade a persons privacy and is completely going against the HIPPA law. It's not the publics business to know this information.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

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Answer 4

First off most STD's are not fatal so AIDS would be the only putting your life at risk. We can't make that kind of a list because those people would be discriminated against in all aspects of life (getting jobs, getting into college etc.). Also it is estimated that more than 50% of sexually active people have HPV, the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer, should they all be on the list. It is also illegal for someone who knows that they have AIDS to have sex with someone without disclosing that information. And further more "a government funded yearly test" that is the worst idea i have heard on the subject, as if taxes aren't already beyond belief and jails aren't overflowing, lets throw that on top of it. Anyways just try to be a little more tolerant of people who have made mistakes, they are still people with rights.

Answer 5

The reason it is illegal to inform the public of an Individual’s STD status is because of the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and most recently the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The objective of the constitution is to uphold individual rights, in some cases individual rights are circumvented for the public good. In this case, the rights of the individual outweigh that of the public. In addition, it would be impossible to create such a notification system. Most public notices are located in the back of the classified section of newspapers and are highly ignored by the public. Lastly, there are many resources available for free or low-cost STD testing. In the end, it is up to everyone to act responsibly.

Answer 6

NO!

How would you like to have your name on that list for everyone to see! You talk about it would make life easier for people not infected, but what about the people that are! They will get avoided like the plague, never have a date. Is that fair!? Just because they have an infection? Should we have a list of everyone who has the cold at a particular time? Or the flu? They are a risk to people that aren't infected aren't they?

People with STDs aren't perverts or anything. We are normal human beings. It can take sex just once to contract an STD. And some can be treated with a course of antibiotics.

Why should people be warned?

It would just increase the stigma of people with STDs. Why have such a problem. I hate people like you that think we're disgusting and dirty.

Answer 7

Hhmm let's see, why should people have the right for their medical records to remain private, the kind of government you described sounds like a Maoist dystopia--This is freaking America. We are protected from unlawful searches made by the government, and if you just test everyone their is no way to say the government has probable cause. Also, having a disease is not a crime the last time I checked--Have you seen "Children of Men" you sound exactly like the government from that movie-scary!

I think you have a case of the Oozing Troll Herpes!

Do you have a lot of unprotected sex with strangers is that why you are asking?

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Answer 9

a) it's that person's medical information which is covered by HIPPA laws (hospital and medical clinics) is private information. It's that person's choice to reveal if they have a medical condition or not, they also have the choice who to say it to.

b) only a medical employee of clinics or hospitals are allowed to say who has an STD, ebola or any transmittable disease to proper authorities example TSA agents in the airport.

Some symptoms of several STDs are silent. Either way its best if everyone concerned wears a condom and a germicide if they want to have sex, limit the people you have sex with and/or abstinence (good luck with that one).

a Mclean County Health Dept volunteer, Illinois
c) ja;jf;ajsfd;aslk

Answer 10

The reason is because this would be considered unconstitutional. Just because something would work doesn't mean we should do it. It would be easier to make sure people where who they said they where if we inserted scan-able chips into there palms but again privacy issues come into play.

Medical concerns are considered doctor patient privilege.

I for one am not a fan of huge government mandates where the public is forced to line up like cattle to get inspected.

I have a much easier way for you to make sure your safe, don't agree to sleep with anyone your not dating and you both get tested.

Personal responsibility people, quit asking for big brother to babysit.