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From: duhon@cbnewsc.ATT.COM (joey.c.duhon)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: Get tested
Message-ID: <28030@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 12 Oct 89 12:35:51 GMT
References: <27888@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> <27972@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
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> >YOU CAN BE INFECTED WITH HIV FOR MANY YEARS AND NOT KNOW IT! GET
> >A CONFIDENTIAL TEST. The life you save may be your best friend!

> Better yet, don't get tested, and change your behavior as if you
> had tested positive.

Better yet, get an ANONYMOUS test, if it is available to you.
Then no one else needs to know your status, and you can make inteligent
decisions about your health, including "preventive" medical practices.

If you are infected with the virus, it makes sense to change your
behavior, but it's too late to prevent the virus from entering your
system. Also, if you haven't been exposed to the virus, it makes
sense to prevent exposure. In other words, I agree that everyone should
assume they have been exposed, and be "safe," but I don't agree that
knowing your status is of no value. To me it's like cutting yourself
and saying "I'll try not to cut myself again," and letting infection
take its toll, and ignoring proper care for the cut in the first place.
The test is necessary to determine that "you've cut yourself."

joey att!ihlpf!duhon