Rhode Island doctors are urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would lift a requirement that patients provide written consent before receiving an HIV test, the Associated Press/WPRI 12 Eyewitness News reports (eyewitnessnewstv.com, 6/19).

According to the article, the doctors say consent forms make it difficult to test their patients and diagnose HIV early in its progression. While the proposed bill would eliminate the paperwork prior to testing, a patient’s verbal consent would still need to be obtained before a screening took place.

Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, told the AP that he opposes the bill, saying consent paperwork does not hinder early HIV detection.