GLAD Calls on Doctors to Offer HIV Test to Patients Following Passage of House Bill
Bennett Klein, AIDS Law Project Director of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), issued the following statement about the passage today in the House of “An Act to Increase Routine Screening for HIV”. The bill changes the Commonwealth’s HIV testing law by requiring a patient’s verbal, instead of written, consent in order for a doctor to test for HIV.
“The real problem with HIV testing in the Commonwealth has always been that too many doctors are not offering the test to their patients as they should. With the removal of the written consent requirement, it’s now time for the medical profession to step up and get the job done by offering an HIV test to all patients as public health authorities recommend. We hope to see an increase in testing and treatment now.”
The bill passed the Senate last month and is expected to be signed into law.