Comment on "Debate: More AIDS tests" (China Daily, Dec 6)

I am all for more HIV/AIDS tests, but they will be helpful only if the government can effectively prevent discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients.

Take hepatitis B for example. Many people take the hepatitis B test every year. But only employers use the results, and they do so to either dismiss employees or refuse employment to people who have tested positive.

HIV tests will not prevent the spread of the disease if the medical results cannot be kept confidential. Instead, they will only make HIV/AIDS patients suffer more.

Kevin, on China Daily website

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(China Daily 12/23/2010 page9)