Adam Shanley tweetz:
Irish AIDS Day is Friday 15th of June – Will you
#PledgeToTest this week? Free rapid HIV tests are available from@KnowNowIE in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Galway. Pledge & ask your friends and followers to do the same by tweeting your#PledgeToTest. http://www.knownow.ie/#sessions
Sponsored Link
At this point, nearly all new infections come from people who don’t know their status. Get tested folks.
Things to consider before getting a HIV test (from GOSHH.ie):
Do I want this test on my medical record?
You may never have thought about your medical records before. Most of the time it does not matter to us what is on our medical records. Having a HIV test is different. Even though having a test is a responsible thing to do, because of the prejudice around HIV, going for a test can sometimes have unwanted consequences.
Certain insurance premiums like life insurance can be dramatically increased, or refused, if you have a HIV test on your medical record. This can happen even if the test result is negative as the insurance company considers you to be high risk.
This extra premium, or refusal, would be regardless of your lifestyle or the reasons for your test. The only exception to this policy is women who have had an anti natal HIV test as this is considered to be routine screening.
Under certain circumstances you may have to consent to others requesting information from your doctor about your medical history (possibly for work, mortgage applications or other reasons).
Once you provide your consent, your doctor is legally obliged to release the full medical history. If your HIV test is on your medical records then this will be included and you will have no control as to where that information goes or what people will do with it.
http://goshh.ie/hivinfo/testing-2/things-to-consider-2/
What are you suggesting, thats its better not to know if you are HIV positive?
Mad that insurance companies are allowed to discriminate like that, especially with a gay doctor at the helm. Do something Leo?
Still doesn’t change the fact that if everyone who was positive knew thier status, new infections would for the most part be eliminated.
Higher risk = higher premium. Simple.
That someone who has a HIV test is automatically placed in a high risk group is simple alright.
Why not go the whole hog and demand a virginity oath for non married before coverage eh?
Good luck with that one.
It’s not about virginity, it’s about where you put it!
And YOU can tell a HIV+ person a mile off yeah?
It’s a virus, just like the cold. No shame, no guilt, just a reality that means you stay healthy, as does others around you.
Pretty serious stuff
The latest DNA ads by health companies are pretty ominous as well.
Finding out you might have a cancer gene and that becoming record stinks to high heaven.
If insurance companies get hold of that ,you might be refused insurance and if you do not notify them of the test you had it might invalidate your insurance if you get cancer.
So maybe before people get tested it should be law that these tests cannot be used by insurance companies
Data is a very powerful thing and in the wrong hands has serious implications for future generations
Don’t worry, your stupid uncle (the one who forwards spam to you) will get the test and they will be able to use that to infer that you are higher risk and charge you accordingly.