Protocol for HIV partner notification

The hospital protocols will be based on the State regulations.

examples

California

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/aids/Documents/RPT2010_01HIVAIDSLaws2009.pdf

NY

http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/aids/regulations/

Washington

http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/hiv/epi/legal.aspx

Interesting discussion

http://depts.washington.edu/hivaids/prevent/case5/discussion.html

Florida

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/aids/legal/Partnot.html

Federal facilities such as VA medical centers and clinics may have a different protocol than the state.

I think you can actually be in trouble with the law if you have sex with someone and not tell them you are HIV positive. I don't think it would be out of the question to mention that to your HIV + patient, it might encourage them to be upfront about the whole thing.

You are absolutely right.

We had a man here in Michigan charged with murder for sleeping with 8 women and not disclosing his HIV positive status when he was released from prison.

Needless to say, he's back where he started from.

Not sure if this is just a GA thing, but I think we have laws where if an HIV pos individual (who is aware that they have the disease) exposes someone (through intercourse, needles, etc) w/ out disclosing their condition, it can be a felony.

It would be a HIPAA violation. It's so hard to sit back and see things like this knowing you should say something. All you can do is encourage safe sex practices. Encourage the risks of not practicing safe sex. If the unaffected HIV person agrees or chooses not to use safe sex, then that is his own choice. By you telling him, he was well informed of the risk.

Are you sure he doesn't already know?? Maybe his partner told him and they are practicing safe sex. I hope so anyway!!

but i agree, it's so hard to sit back and watch it happen knowing fully what the dangers are. My rule of thumb with HIPAA: If you question it, just don't do it.