Stigma and sensitivity | |
Public | ‘It should be carried out like any normal blood test…then the doctor couldn’t be offending anyone or be embarrassed’ ‘The stigma surrounding HIV would be reduced if HIV blood tests become more routine’ |
HP | ‘I feel there is a need for the position of testing to be brought in line with all other tests’ ‘HIV testing would become more routine if it were offered more often’ |
The use of computer selection programs for screening | |
Public | ‘I don’t feel comfortable with patients being selected based on age and post code…it’s acceptable for tests to be run based on prior results’ ‘I believe that implementing it would be a tremendous service if applied ethically and sensitively’ ‘If data is secured and patients aware then it should be allowed’ |
HP | ‘We need universal not targeted screening’ ‘If we are saying that anyone can get these infections, then surely we should check everyone’ ‘Testing on the basis of age etc. will miss a large proportion of the population’ |
Patient consent | |
Public | ‘While the BBV programme is in the public interest, it is vital that efforts are made to inform patients of what is happening’ ‘As long as the patients are fully informed there is no problem’ ‘A mixture of consent and acting in the best interests of the patient would be one of the best methods to ensure wide acceptability of the programme’ |
HP | ‘People are careened for many illnesses without fully informed consent, BBV should be no different’ ‘Akin to random testing for diabetes, you may inform the patient that the test is happening but would not necessarily discuss all the subsequent effects and treatments’ ‘I am sure that as patients become more aware of this happening to their bloods, they will be more accepting of it and ultimately see it as ‘routine’’ |