Against the privacy of AIDS

Last October, the case of Nushawn Williams hit the front pages. He is believed to have infected at least 13 girls and women in Jamestown, New York, with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. His name and face appeared all over the media, shredding the accepted norm of keeping HIV status confidential. In breaking this tradition, public health officials sought to identify and reach the young women he may have infected. Due to this breaking of …

…counseling and medical referrals. And in Missouri, 25% of reported HIV-positive persons were enrolled in a case management plan that offered medical care. In conclusion, name reporting of persons with infectious diseases has the potential to benefit both individual and public health, for all the above reasons stated. Keep in mind that thousand of names have already been revealed, however unfortunately on the AIDS quilt because by then it is too late to save that life.