(WA-DEPT-OF-HEALTH) More Privacy Protection Needed for People with HIV and AIDS

(WA-DEPT-OF-HEALTH) More Privacy Protection Needed for People with HIV and AIDS

Business Wire - Wednesday, March 31, 1999

OLYMPIA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 1999--Public health officials and AIDS advocates will tell state legislators Thursday stronger measures are needed to protect personal medical information related to AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

"I believe we are very close to agreement on an HIV reporting system that will save lives and reduce the spread of this disease," said Secretary of the state Department of Health Mary Selecky. "For this effort to work, people must have confidence their personal medical information will not become public or they will be afraid to get tested for HIV and seek medical care."

The Department and HIV/AIDS advocates are supporting legislation that would increase civil fines from two to ten thousand dollars for disclosing the identity of someone who has HIV or a sexually transmitted disease. The state Senate passed the bill earlier this month.

"This legislation sends a strong message that unauthorized disclosure of confidential HIV/STD information will not be tolerated," said Northwest AIDS Foundation Executive Director, Terry M. Stone. "We hope this effort will help build trust in the system among people in affected communities."

The legislation also directs the Health Department to educate physicians, pharmacists and others involved in reporting these diseases on the new law.

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CONTACT: Department of Health, Renee Guillierie, 360/236-4709 http://epsilon.doh.wa.gov/ or Northwest AIDS Foundation Karl Swenson, 206/860-6247
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