Dr Taylor urges doctors to advise patients to withhold their consent to HIV testing in what he describes as a ‘half-baked, unscientific and ethically dubious proposal’. Earlier this month, Health Minister Stuart Syvret said he hoped that the scheme, aimed at giving an accurate picture of the prevalence of the diseases, would come into operation in the Island shortly. Under the proposals, blood samples taken from patients aged between 15 and 60 could soon be automatically tested for HIV and hepatitis C unless the patient specifically withdraws their permission for this test. However, if a blood sample tests positive for one of those conditions patients will not be informed because the testing will be carried out anonymously and staff will not know whose blood they are testing.
Jersey Evening Post
