HIV Testing Recommendations Raise Concerns

The California Medical Association is reviewing state laws on informed consent for medical procedures because of concerns that the laws might conflict with CDC recommendations on HIV testing, the Oakland Tribune reports.

CDC in September recommended that health care providers incorporate HIV testing as a standard part of care for all patients ages 13 to 64.

CMA in October passed a resolution supporting the recommendation.

However, Michael Allerton, HIV operations and policy leader for Kaiser Permanente Northern California, said state informed consent policies could hinder routine testing.

The Tribune reports that CDC guidelines call for testing patients for HIV unless they specifically decline the test and that such policies could conflict with California rules on medical testing in some settings. In California different informed consent requirements apply to public hospitals and clinics than to private hospitals and doctors offices.

Karen Nikos, a CMA spokesperson, said, "If we need to change [informed consent rules] via legislation, we will pursue it" (Vesely, Oakland Tribune, 12/1).