AIDS, Women, and the Next Generation: Towards a Morally Acceptable Public Policy for HIV Testing of Pregnant Women and Newborns / Edition 1

by Ruth R. Faden, Gail Geller, Madison Powers

Overview

The proliferation of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) among women and children represents one of the gravest health issues confronting contemporary society. Women, most of childbearing age, now constitute 11 percent of all cases, and the U.S. Public Health Service has projected over 3,000 cases of pediatric AIDS by the end of 1991. In the face of these sobering statistics, experts have been called upon to grapple with a difficult, compelling question: under what conditions, if any, should HIV testing of women and children be required? Also at issue are the surreptitious testing for HIV antibodies as part of routine prenatal and neonatal examinations, and whether such testing should be performed on all women and infants, or only those who belong to groups judged at "high risk". In this unique contribution to the debate about HIV screening and testing, Ruth Faden, Madison Powers, and Gail Geller have assembled perspectives from experts in public health, medicine, law, and ethics. Their wide-ranging treatment examines the history of prenatal and neonatal screening programs; informed consent; legal issues and confidentiality; reproductive decision-making; and numerous other aspects of HIV testing. Alternative policy options for both now and the future are discussed in detail. This volume provides a comprehensive analysis of these pressing medical, public health, legal, ethical, and social issues, and is essential reading for AIDS researchers and clinicians, public health specialists, ethicists, health policymakers and analysts, obstetricians, and pediatricians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195065725
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/10/1991
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	9.59(w) x 6.51(h) x 1.39(d)

About the Author

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University

Georgetown University

Table of Contents

PART I: Introduction1. Warrants for Screening Programs: Public Health, Legal and Ethical Frameworks, Ruth Faden, Nancy Kass, and Madison PowersPART II: Public Health and Medical Issues2. Public Health and Clinical Aspects of HIV Infection in Women and Children in the U.S., John Modlin and Alfred Saah3. A History of Prenatal and Neonatal Screening Programs: Lessons for the Future, Katherine Acuff and Ruth Faden4. HIV Infection and Obstetrical Care, Timothy Johnson and John Repke5. Pediatric HIV Testing: Social Issues, Larry Wissow and Nancy HuttonPART III: Legal Issues6. Prenatal and Newborn Screening: State Legislative Approaches and Current Practice Standards, Katherine Acuff7. Legal Issues in Nonvoluntary Prenatal HIV Testing, Anita Allen8. Legal Issues in Voluntary Screening for HIV Infection in Pregnant Women, Patricia King9. Legal Protections of Confidential Medical Information and the Need for Anti-Discrimination Laws, Madison PowersPART IV: Normative and Social Issues10. Ethical and Legal Issues in Mandatory and Voluntary Neonatal HIV Testing, Ruth Faden and Judith Areen11. Ethical Issues in HIV Testing During Pregnancy, LeRoy Walters12. Informed Consent in the Context of Prenatal HIV Testing, Gail Geller and Nancy Kass13. Reproductive Decision-Making in the Context of HIV: The Case for Non-Directive Counseling, Nancy Kass PART V: Conclusion14. HIV Infection, Pregnant Women and Newborns: A Policy Proposal for Information and Testing