If a guy comes forward who has HIV/AIDS and tells the Ministry that he is infected and had sex with X, Y, and Z providers, who happen to have advertisements, I see no problem with the health department contacting them.
HIV Rumour
- Thread starter Creative Eye
- Start date
Agreed
That seems reasonable, and if the rumoured story in this case is true, that is what Creative Eye said happened.
However, there is the different issue of whether the Ministry of Health will release information -- even general confirmation of this story -- if someone contacts the ministry. Personally, I doubt the ministry will release the info., but that doesn't mean Creative Eye or someone else can't try.
Keebler Elf said:
That seems reasonable, and if the rumoured story in this case is true, that is what Creative Eye said happened.
However, there is the different issue of whether the Ministry of Health will release information -- even general confirmation of this story -- if someone contacts the ministry. Personally, I doubt the ministry will release the info., but that doesn't mean Creative Eye or someone else can't try.
Keebler Elf said:
Yes but I don't believe that even then the ministry would say " Hello Miss. X, Mr. Smith has tested positive for HIV and you are his list of people he has had sexual contact with so you should come in and be tested."
I think that when they contact you they just say that you have been in contact with someone who tested positive and request that you be tested as well. They don't give any names. Although I am not positive on this and I could be wrong.
Sounds reasonable
Actually, that sounds plausible to me.
Under the privacy laws, I'm sure the Ministry of Health can't release another person's medical condition (although new laws may make an exception for the medical records of the natural parents of people who were put up for adoption).
I'm sure the ministry couldn't release an HIV-infected person's name without that person's permission, and I'm not certain the ministry could do it even if the person were to say it's OK.
Sasha Jones said:
Actually, that sounds plausible to me.
Under the privacy laws, I'm sure the Ministry of Health can't release another person's medical condition (although new laws may make an exception for the medical records of the natural parents of people who were put up for adoption).
I'm sure the ministry couldn't release an HIV-infected person's name without that person's permission, and I'm not certain the ministry could do it even if the person were to say it's OK.
moviefan said:
Yes they can. No they won't. In emergencies they can take extreme measures, look at SARS. If it was important and necessary, they would release any information they felt was needed. If it was not needed, they would release only what is needed.
They would probably release the name of any SP's who tests positive because you cannot trace all their contacts, but clients would be easier to trace the sexual history of.
It was done in Washington State for a HIV positive gay who vowed to infect as many people as possible, there have been others but that is one that comes to mind right away. Believe there was also a case of HIV notification in the Toronto media a year or two ago.
