Re: 911:: HIV/AIDS tracking in a database

[Guest guest]

I am unaware of any legislation that would directly relate to the illegality

of tracking HIV/AIDS in a database, however there are several things to

consider:

1. In such a database, is there any validation? How often are the entries

checked for correctness? No matter what you're trying to track, if the

information isn't current and accurate, it is useless to begin with.

2. What is the criteria for entry? Is a doctor's statement required? If not,

how do you confirm that the person actually has the disease?

3. What are the laws in your state concerning medical confidentiality? 9-1-1

records? Many times they are VERY different. Storing any sort of PATIENT

information in your CAD system or elsewhere becomes the real issue here in

most cases, not that someone is HIV+.

4. If you track AIDS/HIV do you also track other communicable diseases? If

not, why not? Hepatitis, TB, and a host of others pose a greater statistical

risk to first responders. Are you prepared to begin total tracking? If not,

where do you stop? I suspect that tracking ONLY HIV/AIDS might be viewed by

someone challenging the process as discriminatory.

Needless to say, we do not maintain a computer file for such medical

conditions. We do, however, pass along any information received at he time of

call. I mention this because I have heard concerns from other public safety

agencies concerning what to do when a caller advises them that the patient is

HIV+. We consider this statement to be no different than any other piece of

data, and it is relayed to responding units.

I know this hasn't put you onto any direct law for or against it, but

hopefully this should, at least, provide some areas for discussion.

[Guest guest]

Legal or not.....we also do tracking on individuals. On our database, we have a

category for " Alert Codes " ...meaning.....things to watch out for on that

particular individual. There is a list of about 20-25 things to choose from

including " knife on person " for those that normally carry a pocket knife, " gun

on person, " and more.....plus one that says.. " use universal precautions " (the

older term for body substance isolation). And yes.....before the argument even

starts.......yes all EMT's should automatically use BSI. That's not my point.

We don't dispatch this to the responding EMS unit, it's mostly for our jailers'

information when they are booking someone in. There is even a category on the

database of which sex they prefer (i.e.. heterosexual/homosexual). Illegal to

ask that, you ask? I have no idea....I'm not up on laws that govern that. I

wouldn't be surprised if it was.....but it is one of the many standard book-in

questions are jailers are required to ask.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Cain

9-1-1 Dispatcher/Training Officer

Randolph County Communications

155 E. South Street

Winchester, Indiana 47394

mcain@...

[Guest guest]

Because you can't use universal precautions with everyone you talk to as a

police officer or everyone your arrest, but being aware of a hostile that is HIV

positive allows for more awareness, therefore more protection. Why do you seem

so defensive of this fact?

Rich

1010 WC

Corsetti wrote:

> Why do your superiors feel the need to track this type of information? Any

> time your officers or medical personnel are dealing with ANYONE where there is

> potential exposure, they should be using universal precautions. I'm sure

> there are a lot of people they deal with that are HIV positive or that have

> AIDS that they are not even aware of. Given that, WHY WOULD YOU BE TRYING TO

> TRACK IT IN THE FIRST PLACE???

>

>

[Guest guest]

>Why do your superiors feel the need to track this type of information? Any

time your officers or medical personnel are dealing with ANYONE where there

is potential exposure, they should be using universal precautions.<

Absolutely....

" Tracking " can get out of hand... and cause an agency big problems.

If you are building database information on private citizens you had

better have some heavy justification.... if not you may face some

serious legal problems.

Weintraut

[Guest guest]

> To: <911consoleEGROUPS (DOT) COM>

>

> Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 12:31:59 -0400

> Reply-to: 911consoleEGROUPS (DOT) COM

> Subject: Re: 911:: HIV/AIDS tracking in a database

> Any

> time your officers or medical personnel are dealing with ANYONE where there

> is potential exposure, they should be using universal precautions.

---------<snip>--------------

Universal precautions should be used ON EVERY CALL / PATIENT

If you use precautions for one and not another, you face the

possibility of liability for descrimination.....

Nick Wagner

Cortland Co. (NY) Sheriff's Dept

E9-1-1 Center/Sr. Supervisor

mailto:nwagner@...

[Guest guest]

I apologize if I sounded defensive. I certainly did not intend to be. It

just seems to me that whenever you are in a situation where there is

exposure to body fluids, such as an accident scene or assault scene where

someone is bleeding you would be extra careful. I have never heard of

anyone, police officer, EMS personnel, fire fighter, nurse, doctor, getting

HIV or AIDS from talking with someone or even touching someone. And there

are thousand (tens of thousands maybe?) of people that these professions

have contact with on a daily basis that have HIV and THEY don't even know

they have it! Trying to track HIV, AIDS, TB or anything else like that is

asking to be sued.

[Guest guest]

No need to apologize, it just seemed like you were extremely defensive. I

realize that departments will continue to get sued because AIDS has become a

political disease, because of the stigma attached. And eventually the

politically correct will win out. But everyone keeps saying to use " universal

protection " at scenes where exposure is expected. This is fine for the

EMT/Paramedic and the firefighter responding to incidents. I'm thinking more

of the cops during the unexpected - the traffic stop, the family squabble,

where one is attacked and bitten.

I would rather have dispatch advise me that that plate or residence has a

hazard warning, rather that to put on gloves for every traffic stop. And yes,

I am aware of a police officer who died from AIDS related infection, claiming

he received the imuno-deficiency from a suspect he fought with.

Rich

1010WC

> I apologize if I sounded defensive. I certainly did not intend to be. It

> just seems to me that whenever you are in a situation where there is

> exposure to body fluids, such as an accident scene or assault scene where

> someone is bleeding you would be extra careful.