HIV status to tie the knot

Note: this is an exemplary effort from reno, :) I hope I could maintain this site with contributions from all of you.

28^th Sept 2007 (Fri)

BP training for NHSD

In front of KTSN PBSM, 20000

THW make it compulsory for future spouses to disclose their AIDS status

OG: Matthew, Reno

OO: Izzati, Nina

CG: J, Hafizah

CO: Prisca, Pravita

Adjudicators:

Chair- Bernard

Panel- Wen Nee, Stella

PM:

The problem is basically about the rise of AIDS cases in Malaysia due to unawareness of HIV status. Unawareness of spouse’s HIV status, if the spouse is HIV positive, it is more likely that he/she may be infected, including their offspring. It’s unfairness in marriage.

Mechanism:

• Premarriage counseling is conducted on future couples and HIV test is advised and make compulsory
• Medical result regarding HIV test must be presented during marriage legalization in marriage registrar
• If one/both of the couple is HIV positive, an agreement doc should be signed to make sure another half is well informed of this
• Check and balance: regular HIV test for an interval of approximately 5 years

*Medical confidentiality and practitioners of the test should be mentioned

1^st point from the PM: Duty of state (on the societal health)

It is duty of state to make sure that the HIV status of their spouse is being well informed to each other. We want to create a healthy society and increase AIDS awareness in this country, especially in this particular case of marriage.

Leader of Opp:

Rebuttals:

• On Duty of State - Right of choice whether to disclose the HIV status or not, because the positive or negative HIV is going to cause a big impact on their relationship.
• On Registrar - Feasibility is being question on free HIV test and bribery in marriage registrar (human nature is being brought up)
• On trust - It is up to the HIV positive partner to choose appropriate time to disclose his/her HIV status, because we believe in love is built on trust

1^st point from OO: Negative implication of the proposal (Freedom of Choice)

Discussed on the levels of human’s right of making choice and impact of tourism? of M’sia (*not much elaborated because running out of time)

* Adjudicator note: right to privacy is going to be a better point brought upon by Leader of Opp

=> I would love to listen to the argument on HIV status and tourism

DPM:

Rebuttals:

• On Freedom of Choice - Right to choice are less likely to be prioritized since it’s jeopardizing another human’s right of information/ fairness/ and even life of another half (even whole family, if including offspring) of the marriage.
• On trust and integrity - Bribery cases are insignificant enough to be ignored. Persons elected for the marriage registrar is elite and bound to rules, religion (since this case setup is in M’sia), and regulation.
• On feasibility - More people will attend to HIV test after this proposal is implemented, thus create AIDS awareness among Malaysians, which is out objective
• Tourism - Impact of tourism is not likely because the HIV status is only known by 3 parties: the patient, their spouse, and marriage registrar

2^nd point from OG: Fairness of the marriage

• Discussed in two levels: marriage partner and their children

Deputy Leader of Opp:

Rebuttals:

• Why the govt want to target only on disclosure of HIV status in marriage, why don’t target on other things that make more contribution to the HIV population in M’sia? e.g. IVDU (intravenous drug usage)

* 0.3% of M’sian are HIV positive

*60% are caused by IVUD

(it is outdated data; more recent data should be sought)

** please note that the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2006 (once in 10 years) has been released by the MOH lately.I've been trying to get it but to no avail, can anyone with access (doctors and medical line people alike) help? (ww) - would be helpful for debate on health - and politics in healthcare

CG:

Extension: Trickle down effects of the proposal

• Stigma removal from society which will further create societal acceptance on this case

*stigma is a good point but not well explained
- stigma always include fear, evasiveness and partial knowledge about an issue.
- revealing HIV status sends out a message that -
1. HIV is a disease, like cancer, like the common flu
2. The fact that it has no cure shouldn't create fear, because unlike SARS/EBOLA/even cancer, HIV is not genetic or highly communicable- (doctors would tell you that even healthy lifestyle may not prevent you from a strong inheritance of cancer), and conscious effort (condoms, abstinence) can prevent it.
*A bit of technical knowledge here - HIV is a Biosafety Level 3 virus, a step below Biosafety Level 4 bacteria, Tuberculosis (TB). If migrant workers are required to undergo check for TB, why not HIV in spouses?
3. HIV exposure will tell people that yes, it is deadly, but there are thousands of ways people can contract HIV - not necessarily promiscuity. And if the spouse can't take it, maybe they shouldn't be in the same bed together anyway. => better than getting a divorce later with HIV eh?

CO:

• *Inconsistency because the member of Opp gave me the feeling that HIV is really a serious thing in M’sia, but the whip came out and even said AIDS is just a small matter in this country
• Rebuttals are mainly discussing about love, trust, and how disclosure of the HIV status will destroy a marriage. *Better elaboration about it is up to the HIV patient to choose time to tell their partner. It can be countered by saying procrastinating and lazy nature of human. However, it was not brought up by the CG whip

Extension: Impact on the marriage

** I think so…’cause I hardly catch the points being discussed…I knew only trust and love is being discussed throughout in the closing half of the debate. The CO also mentioned about the positive impact if the patient is given the choice to choose their appropriate time to disclose their HIV status.

p/s:

* indicates comment from adjudicators

** is my personal think about the debate

** the whole debate was not carried out well because of the environmental situations. (We actually had people screaming around us during the debate…they got their crazy own activities lah…) Few new people from KTSN is also being exposed what the hell is BP style. Everyone has presented well.

A selection for NHSD in KTSN will be conducted next week…be ready for the battle!

By

Reno

29 September 2007

It’s late in night…just finished watching Ultraviolet with other guys…sleepy… :)