1 0jM St out * January 5.2001
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PHOTO BY MARTY DAVIS
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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