HIV testing Without Informed Consent
Midwives in New Zealand are concerned that health authorities are breaching pregnant women’s rights by testing them for HIV without their informed consent. Midwifery adviser Norma Campbell, from the College of Midwives, said the organisation supported the universal offer of antenatal screening for HIV but was concerned that in some cases women were not even aware they were being tested for HIV. “Women are entitled to full discussion and disclosure”. Even so, HIV doesn’t appear to be a problem in this New Zealand district. Test results revealed that only 2 out of 9000 expectant mothers were found positive and none of the infants. I’m not sure if this was cost effective. HIV positive women are stigmatized in many parts of the world and can loose insurance and even jobs as well as become social outcasts.