Community | January 21, 2010 | 6 comments

New Texas law requires mandatory reporting of HIV status of pregnant women

source: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kera/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1601308/North.Texas/Texas.T...

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jubal
A new law says Texas health care providers must test a pregnant woman for the virus that causes AIDS during the last three trimester unless she objects. Allison Lowery with the Department of State Health Services says the law, which took effect this month, is meant to save children's lives.
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    Community,   News and Politics,   US Politics,   Humanism,   2 more
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    News,  Texas,  HIV,  Pregnancy,  1 more
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6 comments // New Texas law requires mandatory reporting of HIV status of pregnant women

  • imadvanced
    • 0
      imadvanced  

    • This is odd: "A new law says Texas health care providers must test a pregnant woman for the virus that causes AIDS during the last three trimester unless she objects."

      Testing is required unless the woman objects? Sounds like Texas is requiring doctors to recommend a procedure. But at the same time, people trust their doctors, so this is a little bit more than a 'mere' recommendation.

      Also, just when I think I get liberal and conservative views on health care figured out, the government of a conservative state requires/recommends pregnant women to get HIV tests. This sounds like a windfall for the insurance/medical industry. Medicare (tax payers) and the insured (through higher premiums) will pay for it. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for preventive care, I just didn't expect this to come from Texas.

      Secondly, doesn't the "last three trimester" include the entire pregnancy?

    • 2 years ago
  • EdJoyProductions
  • UrbanGypsy
    • 0
      UrbanGypsy  

    • I think this is a good thing. Transmitting HIV to your baby is something that should be avoided. If you have HIV and are having a baby, you should be taken care of and monitored. I think its already problematic to have a baby if you have HIV, but care should be taken to keep records confidential however.

    • 2 years ago
  • Chique
  • Incredulous
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  

    • Why do we have to have this intrusion into the lives of pregnant women? This reminds me of the law that they passed to publish the data on unmarried pregnant women in a public database, is that to shame them into marriage?

    • 2 years ago
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