HIV and Disclosure

When reviewing cases where a person with HIV is believed to not have informed a sexual partner of their HIV status, judges currently use Canada’s Currier decision (1998) which states “A person has a legal duty to disclose his or her HIV-positive status to sexual partners before having sex that poses a “significant risk” of HIV transmission.” This includes anal or vaginal sex without a condom. What else it includes is not fully clear.

Do you disclose to all of your partners, or only those whom you place at “significant risk”, and how do you determine whether the risk is significant or not? What are your thoughts on the Currier Decision? Is it clear enough, or do we need a list of what can or can’t be done, with or without disclosure? HIV is a disease, not a crime, perhaps clearer laws would help. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

Canadian HIV law

Monitoring Your Immune System, Emphasis on Your!

You may be great about going in and getting your blood work done as recommended…but do you know what those results mean? What’s a CD4 count? Should it go up or down? Or what’s your Viral Load? Is a high number good or bad? And what’s this ratio that always comes up? If we are knowledgeable regarding this disease, we can actively participate in our own treatment.

Do you know the answers to these questions? More importantly do you know what the answers mean? How closely do you monitor your immune system and how do you do it, or do you? We’d like to hear your ideas on how to monitor your own immune system; perhaps your ideas can help someone else. Please tell us your thoughts.

More evidence continues to be found proving the dangerous effects of crystal meth, particularly for those who are at risk for or who have HIV.

With many HIV positive individuals battling issues such as depression, lack of energy, low self-confidence and anxiety, it’s easy to see how this drug has become a popular release from the stresses of living with HIV as it promises to temporarily erase or gloss over these concerns. Crystal meth may sound like a great cure for the woes of PHA’s, but Scientists continue to find more evidence of the dangerous and possible deadly results of its use, including the fact that meth can interfere and negate the effects of HAART, leading to a more rapid progression of HIV. Meth also causes permanent changes in the physical structure of the brain, possibly changing a person’s psychology and ability to think clearly.

What do you think? Is the risk worth the fun? Some feel that they can choose to use crystal meth occasionally; for example to enhance or prolong sexual pleasure, and then not think of the drug until the next party. Is this a healthy attitude? Or should we all be scared shitless of the fact that this drug will kill you (possibly), and never even be tempted by it? We want to know what you feel. What do you see out there? Tell us your thoughts.