North Carolina AIDS Service Coalition.
*** Legislative Update xcxzxc
Date: March 28, 1989
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL GETS HEARING; DEAL OFFERED
THREE AMENDMENTS PASS
MEDICAL SOCIETY COMES ON STRONG
The Senate Human Resources heard testimony supporting the antidiscrimination/informed consent bill today and deferred action
until next week.
Before hearing testimony the committee adopted three amendments.
1. Allow testing of children under 13 without parental
consent if the infant is at risk, the parents have been counseled
and the parents still refuse to authorize testing; allow testing
without consent if the patient i6 incompetent or unable to
respond.
2. Add the word "informed" to the provision requiring
consent before testing.
3. Prohibit discrimination in "continuous" employment,
prohibiting the firing of an employee who is infected but not
prohibiting employers from requiring an HIV test of new job
applicants.
The Medical Society was represented by two physicians, both of
whom were very forceful and articulate. The Society also
distributed copies of its letters to Governor Martin and
legislators (attached). The doctors 6tated strongly that there
were no reasons to fear transmission at work or casual contact
and, therefore, no reason for discrimination; and that
discrimination interferes with care and control.
The Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities
supported the bill, providing a view of how fear has caused
discrimination against persons with disabilities throughout
history.
The Restaurant Association gave testimony which surprised
everyone. The Executive Director said that they had "a problem
with image, not reality". He stated that while AIDS could not be
transmitted through food, a recent Harris Poll showed that 40% of
Americans said they would not eat in a restaurant where someone
with AIDS worked. He argued that since restaurants operate on a
10% margin, it would not take the loss of many customers to put
North Carolina AIDS Service Coalition.
*** Legislative Update xcxzxc
Date: March 28, 1989
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL GETS HEARING; DEAL OFFERED
THREE AMENDMENTS PASS
MEDICAL SOCIETY COMES ON STRONG
The Senate Human Resources heard testimony supporting the antidiscrimination/informed consent bill today and deferred action
until next week.
Before hearing testimony the committee adopted three amendments.
1. Allow testing of children under 13 without parental
consent if the infant is at risk, the parents have been counseled
and the parents still refuse to authorize testing; allow testing
without consent if the patient i6 incompetent or unable to
respond.
2. Add the word "informed" to the provision requiring
consent before testing.
3. Prohibit discrimination in "continuous" employment,
prohibiting the firing of an employee who is infected but not
prohibiting employers from requiring an HIV test of new job
applicants.
The Medical Society was represented by two physicians, both of
whom were very forceful and articulate. The Society also
distributed copies of its letters to Governor Martin and
legislators (attached). The doctors 6tated strongly that there
were no reasons to fear transmission at work or casual contact
and, therefore, no reason for discrimination; and that
discrimination interferes with care and control.
The Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities
supported the bill, providing a view of how fear has caused
discrimination against persons with disabilities throughout
history.
The Restaurant Association gave testimony which surprised
everyone. The Executive Director said that they had "a problem
with image, not reality". He stated that while AIDS could not be
transmitted through food, a recent Harris Poll showed that 40% of
Americans said they would not eat in a restaurant where someone
with AIDS worked. He argued that since restaurants operate on a
10% margin, it would not take the loss of many customers to put
