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by dwheeler6201 from South St. Louis

Last Post 27 days, 20 hours Ago


HIV TESTING FOR TEENAGERS
Jul 18, 2008 | 5:41 AM
Category: News
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I just read an article on another site that Children's Hospital is going to be offering confidential HIV testing to anyone 15 and older that is seen in the emergency room.  The parent will be asked to leave the room, a pamphlet will be offered to the teen explaining the procedure.  If the teenager agrees a mouth swab will be taken and results given in 20 minutes.  If the results are positive a blood test will be done to confirm the results.

According to one of the doctors they are seeing teenagers in this age group with HIV on the average of  one or two a month. 

There is a group in Washington D.C. that is very angry about this.  They are saying it violates the rights of the parents.

I did not see the article here, and didn't feel comfortable doing the copy and paste thing, not sure about copyrights.

Personally, HIV kills and while we all want to think our teenagers tell us everything and we KNOW they are not having sex - that is not reality.  I know a teenager will tell a doctor or someone else something they are scared to tell their parents, I know this, I was a teenager and I raised 3 of them. If it saves my child's life or gets the message to my child that HIV can happen to them.  I'm all for it. Teenagers seem to think they are invincible.

When I was growing up the worse thing that could happen was that the girl would get a bad reputation. Believe me, back then that was a terrible thing,  To be considered a "bad" girl or a girl that was "fast" was horrible.  Yes, we had sexually transmitted diseases but they didn't kill you.  I used to tell my kids that now days it isn't a matter of reputation, it is your life.  You can die from this.

Anyway, enough about how I feel   What do you think about this decision? How would you feel about your teenager being tested?
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Member Comments Total Comments: 16
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mr_wildflower read my blog view my photos
Jul 18, 2008 | 6:14 AM

What group in Washington....?? I see nothing wrong with it..... If a kid is sick then they need to know.......

If you copy and paste the entire article including who it is by I don't believe you are violating any copyright laws....
But if your worried then just post the link to the article and you are covered......
dwheeler6201 read my blog view my photos
Jul 18, 2008 | 6:20 AM

The group in Washington is the Family Research Council, based in Washington D.C., they called it outrageous.

The article is on the ksdk website. It is written by their health reporter. If it was an AP article I would feel more comfortable about coping it.
Bee1 read my blog
Jul 18, 2008 | 6:26 AM

I don't see the problem, it will save lives
Bee1 read my blog
Jul 18, 2008 | 6:26 AM

I don't see the problem, it will save lives
aprillovesfox2 read my blog view my photos
Jul 18, 2008 | 8:50 AM

Well, as a parent of a teen I am all for it. We discuss at risk behavior and I think he gets it. I am also not so naive as to think that it isn't a teen issue. Earlier diagnosis is best.
mechany144 read my blog view my photos
Jul 18, 2008 | 8:50 AM

Okay by me. Being the father of three I am more concerned about their lives than I am my parental rights.
The Family Research Council reminds me of the Parents Research Music Council, only more ridiculous. I think it is the PRMC. Or was that the PMRC? Huh. Retired Air Force and I am still bad at acronyms!
Ilovethecity46 read my blog
Jul 18, 2008 | 12:01 PM

As a nurse I applaude Childrens. They might save a few young lives,maybe even prevent new infections. Your kids can get birth control and have abortions without permission,so why not HIV testing and consuling.
IneedUrHelp read my blog
Jul 18, 2008 | 12:08 PM

I'm for it.
dwheeler6201 read my blog view my photos
Jul 18, 2008 | 12:11 PM

I agree, and really by the time my kids were 15 I felt they were old enough to be seen by the doctor without my being in the room. I would tell the doctor what I needed him to know or answer any medical history questions I needed to, but unless my kids asked me to stay I left the room while they were being examined.

HIV kills, I would rather have my child get tested and/or treated without permission, then for them to be afraid to ask permission. I do think they need to be encouraged if not pushed to tell the parents if the results are positive. The is something that will affect every aspect of their lives. I also think the hospital needs to make sure a doctor or nurse is with them when the parents are told.
Sophia121 read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2008 | 12:06 AM

"If the teenager agrees a mouth swab will be taken and results given in 20 minutes. If the results are positive a blood test will be done to confirm the results."

First let me say that I think this is a GOOD idea. However, I feel the downside to this will be, if teens are practicing unsafe sex, (and obviously a great deal of them are)chances are either most will NOT admit to having their mouth swabbed for fear of embarrassment/exposure or they'll avoid going to the ER all together (if possible). I think in addition to this new proposal, teens in that age bracket should have to provide proof of having been tested for HIV/AIDS prior to each school year as with their immunizations. jmo

It's a sad situation but at least they're trying to get a handle on it.
dwheeler6201 read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2008 | 5:30 AM

I don't know if I agree about the teenagers refusing to have the swab, most of the kids I know have this feeling of invincibility about them - you have no idea how many times I heard "I didn't think it would happen to me". I can see most of them rolling their eyes and saying "whatever".
mrmgrady read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2008 | 1:05 PM

Here it is:
Missouri: Adolescents, not parents, to decide on HIV testing




The Associated Press


ST. LOUIS — Pediatrician Ericka Hayes rarely sees new cases of young people infected with HIV at birth. But hardly a month passes when her clinic at St. Louis Children’s Hospital doesn’t take on a patient that has acquired the disease through unprotected sex.

Children’s next month will become by its account the nation’s first pediatric hospital offering free and immediate HIV testing to patients ages 15 and older. Results will be available within minutes.

But one aspect of the program is raising some eyebrows: The patient, not the parents or guardians, will decide whether to be tested. Likewise, it will be the young patient who gets the results.

“A lot of teenagers involved in high-risk behaviors won’t participate in the testing if the testing is not confidential,” Hayes said. “We really want to remove that from the equation and let the adolescent decide on testing for HIV. Otherwise teenagers engaging in high-risk behaviors often will not get tested.”

Peter Sprigg, vice president for policy for the Family Research Council, said the parents — not the kids — should be calling the shots.

“When it comes to medical care, the parent should have absolute authority over whether a child is tested and should be the first notified of the results,” Sprigg said. “There are states where you can’t get your ears pierced or go to a tanning salon without parental permission, yet you’re going to tell people they have HIV without getting the parents involved? To me, tha
mrmgrady read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2008 | 1:07 PM

To me, that’s outrageous.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2006 recommended routine HIV screening for people 13-64, and some hospitals have begun universal screening. But Hayes said the program at Children’s will be unique among pediatric hospitals. Also unique is the fact that the testing decision is left to the adolescent.

A 10-year analysis by Hayes showed a staggering increase in new behavior-related cases of HIV involving people ages 13-24. In 1997, there were 21 new cases diagnosed in St. Louis; in 2006, there were 54. And Hayes said there are likely many more teens and young adults with HIV who don’t know it.

Starting in July, adolescents who come to the Children’s emergency room — regardless of their injury or illness — will receive written information explaining the HIV testing. The patient will be asked privately if he or she wants the test.

If so, a swab of the patient’s gums will be conducted. Results should be back within 20 minutes. If the test is negative, the patient will be informed. If positive, a blood test will be given to verify the results. That preliminary blood test also takes about 20 minutes.

Good or bad, the patient will know the results of the test before leaving the ER, Hayes said. It will be up to the patient to decide if the news is shared with the parents, though he or she will be encouraged to do so.

“To go from your parents don’t even know you’re having sex to learning you have HIV in 20 minutes is a big jump,” Hayes said. “We’re going to help walk the family through it.”

The first step after a positiv
dwheeler6201 read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2008 | 1:13 PM

Thank you for posting this article. I did not see this one, only the one on ksdk.
momof3 read my blog view my photos
Jul 21, 2008 | 8:21 PM

I think it's a great idea. And your right most kids will be rolling there eyes and saying it would never happen to me.
Chickenkiller read my blog
Jul 24, 2008 | 10:14 PM

Frankly, I see the idea of testing as a stupid idea. Here's why:

1. If you don't tell the parents the results of the testing how do you in fact initiate treatment if a test is positive?

2. If a test is positive, I would suggest that the kid is already out of control to begin with, and without the parents knowledge, whats to prevent the kid from infecting others.

I believe that currently it is a felony in Missouri to knowing act in a manner that will transmit the disease. How will the law treat a juvenile defender that breaks this law? Another trip to juvenile court and a slap on the wrist?

Nope, there are a lot more questions that need to be answered prior to instituting a testing regimen.
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dwheeler6201

The last couple of months I have come to realize how blessed I am. I recently received a promotion at work, our company is for some strange reason, flourishing in this economical crisis, I received good news on the results of my MRI. I have been having strange headaches which they have now decided are Occipital Migraines. I really am blessed, I am in good health, my children and grandchildren are in good health, I have a job (these days that is the best blessing), a home, good friends, and food to eat. I am thankful for all these blessings. I am not trying to sound like I am bragging, I am truly thankful!

Member Since: 6/23/2008


 

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