September 1.2000 Ii'iu iiü iv j^ im e w s Continued from Page 1 Under the current proposal, Henson says names not only would he available to the state’s health division hut could he recorded by coun­ ty health departments. He says that people already distrust county health systems in rural Oregon and that the plan only would damage the relationship further. Cascade AID S Project, Oregon’s largest HIV/AIDS agency, supports expanded report­ ing but is less clear about the current proposal. When asked about it, CA P reissued its Decem­ ber 1999 position statement: “Generally speaking, this proposed policy appears to he a workable compromise between all views on expanded reporting and one that we may he Steve Henson, who sits on the governor- appointed Oregon Public Health Advisory Board, says name reporting would be a prob­ lem. The building contractor, who lives in rural Coos County, says he isn’t worried about viola­ tions of rules in reporting the names of people with HIV. Henson says the state has no real history of that. “ But public perception will keep people from getting tested until they are symptomatic.” Cox agrees. “Public health has failed to market itself, so people don’t trust it.” He isn’t worried about breaches of confidentiality, hut he knows others will he. “People are afraid... and they don’t have as much information as I have.” The consequence, Hen­ son says, is people won’t get tested and won’t receive early treatment. Additional­ ly, he thinks when people don’t know their HIV status, they are more likely to put others in danger. The health division esti­ mates between 3,500 and 6,000 Oregonians have HIV. In the proposed report­ ing system, names would he converted to a unique identifier (or code) within 90 days. After the conver­ sion, the names would he removed from the patient’s file. In 1999, an HIV Ex­ panded Surveillance Committee at the "HIV is not chlamydia health division took testimony from The truth about AIDS Oregonians about is it's much more o f a the issue. Henson, who sat on the sociological disease than a panel, says people biological one. There is overw h elm in gly able to support.” stated they would still endless shame A request for an interview refrain from being with Dr. Mark Loveless, health tested if names re­ involved with it division HIV prevention man­ porting was part of the — Jack Cox ager, from Just Out received no policy. “Their comments response. He told The Oregonian the were largely based on the new system of reporting will get HIV- perception that they couldn’t trust infected residents the services they need and the government with their health.” Oregonians have two options when getting help the agency get a better understanding of where the disease is spreading. a HIV test: anonymous testing or confidential More than 30 states use name-based testing. Anonymous testers never report their name. Confidential testers provide a name, hut reporting systems. Epidemiologists say more accurate information about the number of it is not recorded in the patient’s file. HIV cases is needed for prevention planning Henson says a compromise is available: unique identifiers. In fact, he says the system was and to link infected people with vital health part of the recommendation the advisory hoard services. Cox thinks Loveless has decided this is the made to the Oregon Health Division. He doesn’t only way to report people who test positive and know why the state failed to pursue that option. has ignored minorities, the gay community and Ron Cease, the advisory board’s chairman, most service providers. “It is a huge violation of says that community groups generally have been opposed to full names reporting and that process,” he says. his panel would not support such a move. “We treat HIV as a health issue and a civil rights ■ The O regon H ealth D ivision will hold public hearings 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at the Holiday issue,” he says. Cease thinks a solution has not been pre­ Inn Airport, 8439 N.E. Columbia Blvd., Portland; 10 a.m. Sept. 28 at the Rogue Valley sented that is entirely acceptable to everyone. He knows that people who suspect their priva­ Medical Center, 2825 Barnett Road, Medford; cy will he compromised will not come forward and 10a.m. Sept. 29 at the Central Oregon Environmental Center, I6N.W. Kansas, Bend. to he tested. On the other hand, Cease understands Call (503) 731 -4000 for more information. the need for the health division to have J o n a th a n K ipp is a Just Out staff reporter cooperation from citizens to gather accurate and important information. It is a difficult who can be reached at jkipp@teleport.com. situation, he says. 11 ^)4eaitku Pfets o ' n t/u v e A t Pia P a t u s - a l A l t e r - n a t i i n to P i t Poods and Supplies 9 A ffliN atura?Foods 9 F e ria ?Remedies 9 Homeopathic Remedies 9 Pesticide Free 9 B o o is 9 Treats 9 Toys 25% Discount on First Purchase Just M ention This Ad • Expires O ctober 5, 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 8 S E 39th (39th & H aw th o rn e ) Portland, O reg o n 9 7 2 1 4 (503) 236-8036 WHO’S READY FOR A CAREER s CHANGE? CDR has great jobs available NOW! Contact us to schedule an interview. We want to meet you, not just your resume! CDR International specializes in finding just the right position that suits your experience, skills and goals. 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