HIV Testing paper

Mandatory HIV Testing: Wasteful or Worthwhile?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, more commonly known as HIV is a disease that leaves a

person receptive to life-threatening infections. It attacks the immune system. There are two types

of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the basic cause of AIDS worldwide, while HIV-2 is found in West

Africa. HIV infection occurs when a person comes in contact with an infected persons bodily fluids,

including semen, blood, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. The main ways a person could

become infected with HIV is sexual relations with an infected person, pricking of a hypodermic

needle that an infected person has used, or a mother transferring it to her child through birth or

breast-feeding (“Human”). HIV testing should not be mandatory because of how few people are

infected, an infected person’s rights, and discrimination.

There are very few people infected with HIV in the world. In 2000, only 36,100,000 people

were infected worldwide while the number of people worldwide is in the billions. Only 920 thousand

people in North America are infected with HIV (Agence France-Presse). The mast majority

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This is because tests are done unnecessarily, it costs more for the lab to extra

money to hire and train staff to do those tests and purchase additional equipment. The Right of Privacy “is the

right claimed by individuals to control the disclosure personal information about themselves”

(Smith). But when people are hypochondriacs, it is a waste of

money, equipment, and lab time. The Fourth Amendment protects people against

absurd searches and confiscation by the government. Insurance

companies will not usually pay for these tests when they are unessential. These people are being segregated

even in prison because of their disease. Even if you do pay for the tests yourself, it ultimately does increase

HealthCare costs. A branch of civil law which is called tort law

which makes it possible for people to sue someone else in four different categories: (1)disclosing

private facts that are not newsworthy; (2) portraying a person in false light; (3) using a person’s

image or personal facts for profit without the person’s knowledge; and (4) intruding into a person’s

private physical space(Smith). They sued the stated

because there was a policy that kept them from participating in activities, such as, education,

vocational, recreational, and religious activities with the other inmates.

But we can’t even seem to do that!!” (Mustafa). These tests are definitely good when they are used for their true purpose. Some people are not honest with their

partners and end up infecting them. Many people believe that if they pay for test themselves, it does

not increase HealthCare costs. They ask for the

tests because of fear and guilt.

People are scorned because of being HIV positive.

Approximate Word count = 770
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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