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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2001)
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Halsey However, the implementation of name-to- code reporting is being delayed six months to address some of the concerns raised by the com munity. “We will undertake six specific activi ties during the next six months to balance our obligation to protect individuals from progres sion of the illness while maintaining compas sion for personal concerns,” Wasserman said. The health division will continue to make anonymous testing the cornerstone of its approach, and local laboratories, health depart ments and physicians will be trained in current privacy measures. Wasserman said the health division will examine ways to strengthen priva cy laws and will make special efforts to engage Dr. Martin Wasserman (left) consults with Thomas Bruner during a press conference Dec. 21 community groups, advocates and others to three employees have access to it. The comput regon will be the 35th state to record the work as a team to increase the number of high- names of people testing positive for the er, Wasserman said, is not networked with any risk people tested. A special advisory group will be created to virus that causes AIDS. Nationally, more than others but is a “stand-alone unit.” After health division personnel have utilized 750,000 people— about one in 300— are infect assist him in the review and oversight of these the data, the name automatically will be activities. “We have much to accomplish over ed with HIV. Wasserman said 6,500 Oregonians are changed to a nonidentifying code. If the data are the next six months,” he added. Thomas Bruner, CA P executive director, HIV-positive; however, only two-thirds are not utilized within 90 days, the computer auto matically will transform the name into a code, said his group could support the policy if the aware of their disease. “It is this gap that brings and the name will be deleted. state accomplishes its goals during the six- us here today.” month interim. “Then we are prepared to fully Almost 5,000 Oregonians have been diag asserman and those supporting the new support the proposal as a sound public policy.” nosed with AIDS since 1981. About 60 percent policy insist they want to help reach Earlier last year, CAP was critical of the have died. everyone testing positive for HIV so individuals The names of people diagnosed with AIDS health division’s proposal about names reporting, have crucial information necessary to sustain calling for stricter confidentiality laws, compre have been reported to the health division since their lives. hensive training of all HIV testing and service the beginning of the epidemic. During the 1990s, But Cox said that once someone who tests providers about confidentiality and more aware as the HIV epidemic began changing, so did the positive at an anonymous testing site goes in for ness campaigns (including the option to be test policies around the country about reporting the treatment, the physician will retest for HIV. ed anonymously or confidentially) aimed at the names of those testing positive for the virus. Spanish-speaking and high-risk communities. State health officials hope to accomplish two Under the new system, that test result— and the The six-month goals generally reflect things by taking names: to provide more accu individual’s name— will be sent to the health C A P s criticism and its suggestions to make the rate information. on the full extent of the division. proposal workable. “In large measure the Ore HIV/AIDS epidemic in Oregon that will assist This will defer treatment for people who are gon Health Division listened and heard,” in better planning for care and prevention serv afraid of being named, Cox said. In protest of Bruner said. ices and to ensure a newly diagnosed person is the decision, his group is calling for affected referred to a clinician for treatment options and communities to withdraw from volunteer partic ut Jack Cox of the HIV Advocacy Council to social service agencies. ipation in health division programs, committees of Oregon and Southwest Washington said Wasserman said expanded reporting will and task forces and those of agencies supporting these promises are things that should have been help HIV-infected people stay healthier for a mandatory names reporting. in place for at least the past 20 years. He is but longer period of time. “At the heart of this deci Steven Henson, who sits on the Oregon Pub one of the many voices who have opposed a sion is our desire to protect individuals— both lic Health Advisory Board, issued a statement in name-to-code policy since the issue came up those with HIV infection and those at risk for response to Wasserman’s announcement. The more than two years ago. “These changes won’t becoming infected.” panel, appointed by Gov. John Kitzhaber, studied make a difference in a community where public Names will be kept in a computer database at the proposal and was split on the issue. health is fundamentally mistrusted for historic the Portland headquarters of the health divi Henson said the new policy will threaten reasons and where people are frightened of sion. The computer is in a locked room; only more than a decade of bridge building between being recognized,” he said. public health officials and HIV-infected Cox and his colleagues think people Oregonians. Because of that, he thinks at risk of HIV, particularly in communi people’s lives are at risk. He said many ties of color, will be even less likely to get Oregonians have gone homeless or lost tested once they find out the state wants jobs, family and friends— even their to use their name. He said many people lives— when they were found out to be will be reluctant to test—even anony HIV-positive. mously— upon hearing of the new policy. Henson’s own life might be one of the Most of those opposed to name-to- first at risk under the new policy. In code reporting support a system of protest of Wasserman’s decision, the expanded reporting of those testing pos North Bend man, who is HIV-positive, itive for HIV. Both sides see value in uti said he will discontinue all anti-retroviral lizing demographic information to fuel medications prescribed for him. He epidemiological studies. intends to continue his one-man protest All agree that tracking the AIDS until the decision to utilize names report epidemic no longer reflects the epidem ing is reversed or effective legislation and ic of HIV, because people with the virus administrative rules are enacted to secure now are living longer with the advent of and protect the rights of HIV-positive effective anti-retroviral treatments. Oregonians. j n Although many state health officials want to utilize names, opponents say the J onathan K ipp is a Just Out same thing can be accomplished by staff reporter who can be reached at using a unique identifier system. Steven Henson jldpp@teleport.com. O W B