< Back

DISEASE/DISEASE MANAGEMENT

North Carolina Medical Society AIDS Policies

HIV Prevention and Education
RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports AMA and state policies advocating HIV prevention and education composed of scientific, evidence-based, and non-restrictive language targeting elementary, secondary, and college students, including the high-risk groups of young adults and others with barriers to informed education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports evidence-based programs that decrease the spread of communicable diseases via needle injections; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports needle exchange programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports public education regarding (1) the importance of HIV testing of pregnant women and neonates; (2) the use of appropriate treatment to decrease vertical transmission of HIV; and (3) other ways to decrease maternal HIV transmission.

Discrimination against HIV-Infected Persons
RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports the enforcement of existing federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws against persons who illegally discriminate against HIV-infected persons based on their disease; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports uniform strict confidentiality at all levels of government, business, and medical care of the identity of persons with HIV infection, except where public health requires; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports laws providing immunity for physicians for confidential communications regarding an HIV-infected person’s serostatus with appropriate health care professionals involved in the person’s treatment.

HIV Testing
RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports public education about the importance of HIV testing and recognizes the right of each patient to refuse HIV testing; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports public availability of HIV testing with counseling and treatment for the general public; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports HIV testing in all health care setting as a routine part of any medical evaluation for persons age 13-64, if not already done, and after notifying the patient that testing will be done unless the patient declines (opt-out screening); and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports annual testing of persons at high-risk for HIV infection; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports non-mandatory prevention counseling in conjunction with HIV testing; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports HIV testing be included in the routine panel of prenatal screening tests for all pregnant women after notifying the patient that the testing will be done unless the patient declines; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports HIV testing of pregnant women in the third trimester or rapid HIV testing at the time of labor or delivery, with or without patient consent, if there is no record of an HIV test result during the current pregnancy.

HIV Transmission
RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports the establishment of confidential community contact tracing and partner notification systems for sexual partners or intravenous drug users sharing needles who might be HIV infected; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports reporting of individuals suspected of knowingly and willingly risking infection of unsuspecting persons to local public health officials and preemptive sanctions for individuals engaging in such behaviors.

HIV Treatment
RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports adequate treatment of HIV-infected individuals including ongoing monitoring by competent health care professionals so as to reduce the risk of HIV transmission, decrease long-term medical costs, and ensure HIV-infected persons remain healthy and productive members of society.

HIV in Health Care Settings
RESOLVED,That the North Carolina Medical Society supports the implementation of appropriate laws, rules, and regulations requiring HIV-infected persons who are aware of their status to divulge it to appropriate health care professionals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports laws and regulations that provide strict confidentiality laws and due process protections for HIV-infected health care professionals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports adherence to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for infection control including the following conduct by health care professionals:

  1. Strict observance of universal precautions
  2. Self-testing and self-reporting of HIV-infected status to State Health Director by persons performing invasive medical procedures; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports continued training and education regarding HIV prevention and treatment for all health care professionals.

HIV in Schools
RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports school attendance by HIV-infected children at facilities adhering to the North Carolina Commission for Health Services regulations on the management of HIV-infected children in schools and day care centers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports temporary removal of an HIV-infected child from a school setting that would likely pose a threat to his/her health or risk of HIV transmission to others; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society supports strict confidentiality by a school system regarding communication of a child’s HIV-infected status with such information being given only to school personnel with a clear and compelling need to know.

(Report PP-1996, adopted as amended 11/17/96)
(revised, Report R-2006, Item 15, adopted 10/29/2006)
(revised, Report N-2008, Item 3-20, adopted 10/19/2008)
(reaffirmed, Reaffirmation Report-2013, Item 3, adopted 10/26/2013)