March 5, 2008

HIV-Positive Students in Illinois Must Disclose to School Officials

A bill put in front of the Illinois House that would have repealed a law requiring students to report their HIV status to school principals was rejected on March 4, the daily newspaper The State Journal-Register reports (sj-r.com, 3/5).

Currently, Illinois law allows a school principal to disclose the identity of a student infected with HIV to the school nurse, and also to his or her teachers. The rejected bill would have removed the requirement that principals be notified when a student tests positive.

“As a parent, I want the school officials to have every bit of information that they can have in order to ensure public safety for all the kids,” said Rep. David Reis (R-Willow Hill), who voted against removing the law.

However, Ann Hilton Fisher, executive director of the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, said that lawmakers need to become better informed about HIV transmission. “HIV is not spread through playground accidents or bloody noses,” Fisher said. “It just does not happen that way.”

Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), who sponsored the legislation, said she will try to revive the bill. “I don’t think people have a full understanding of what youth [are] faced with, the stigma that still remains around HIV and the need to protect people’s privacy around health issues,” she said in the article.

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Previous Comments:

David, Houston, 2008-03-12 09:39:35
It seems like education is a 4 letter word to some politicans. HIV is not TB, which is airborne and should be disclosed on a need to know basis and principals do not need to know. Some people forget how cruel other students can be and disclosure would make school harder than it already is.

Kevyn, Indianapolis, 2008-03-07 01:29:59
This is one of the most ridiculous and asinine polices I have seen. I volunteer with persons whom are HIV+ and have myself, been positive for four years now. We all know how hard the youth and teen-age years are and then to have a hypocrite who wants to ostracize these kids even more is truly SHAMEFUL!!! I feel that a person’s medical condition should be completely private, especially when the condition does not pose a direct threat to anyone else and already comes with an attached stigma.

Nathan, Bradenton, FL, 2008-03-06 14:13:34
On a need to know basis, this policy is outrageous. There is no need for school officials to know who is HIV+ and who is not. The need for such a policy is rooted in bigotry, and discrimination. Where are the HIPAA policy. I don't so how the policy conforms to HIPAA standards.

Doug, Los Angeles, 2008-03-06 13:21:43
Somebody please tell me when the general population of this country are going to pull their heads out of their asses and get some education???? I cannot believe this kind of crap still happens! As someone who barely survived my teenage years and high school in general, don't our kids have enough to deal with??? If we all spent a little more time gaining knowledge instead of giving into knee jerk judgements and fear/hate of everything we don't understand what a great world this might be...

Carlos, New York, 2008-03-06 12:59:25
The state gov't of Illinois appears to have forgotten HIPAA is in place for certain reasons. If healthcare providers cannot disclose the patients status why should a Principal or anyone aside those who provide medical treatment for the student be informed. The school nurse should be informed. however not by the principal but from the patients Medical provider (MD) or by the state.

sara, brooklyn ny, 2008-03-06 12:12:39
can we say universal precautions, anyone? these educators and some politicians need to go back to school.