HIV is considered a chronic infectious disease. With access tohealth care and adherence to suggested HAART therapy, people areliving normal lives through their late adulthood without AIDSprogression. Let's talk a little bit about the rights andresponsibilities of a person with a chronic communicable diseaselike HIV.

1) Currently, military applicants who test positive for HIV areexcluded from participating in military service, regardless of theability to perform. Would you consider this discrimination of apre-existing condition?

2) Active duty military or reservists that test positive (theyare tested biannually) are allowed to stay in the military, andonly discharged when soldiers are physically deteriorated orcognitively inept. Recently, multiple men have been forciblydischarged from the military due to a positive HIV test, despitebeing asymptomatic, overall in 'good' physical and mental health,and adhering to HAART therapy. Do you think there is any rationalargument to remove service men and women from duty if they are HIVpositive? Is this a violation of the rights of the individuals?

3) What do you think of the scenario where an HIV infectedindividual is in a combat-zone, receives an injury, and potentiallyexposes his or her fellow soldiers to their blood during rescueefforts?

4) It is highly recommended that HIV positive pregnant femalestake HAART therapy throughout their pregnancy. HAART duringpregnancy has proven highly efficacious in minimizing thetransmission of HIV from mother to fetus throughout pregnancy andduring birth. However, it is not legally required for a pregnantwoman to take HAART therapy, even when the mother is provided HAARTthrough government funding such as MassHealth. Should a DOTS-likeprogram (remember from the TB lecture) be required for pregnant HIVfemales?

5)  Persons who inject drugs can substantially reducetheir risk of getting and transmitting HIV, viral hepatitis andother blood-borne infections by using a sterile needle and syringefor every injection. In many jurisdictions, persons who injectdrugs can access sterile needles and syringes through syringeservices programs and through pharmacies without a prescription.However, a largely conservative population views these programs asa promotion of addict behavior. Do you agree with this sentiment?If yes, explain. If no, how can we change these views?