Often, I find articles about how the medical community has failed some group. It doesn't matter if it's people of color, women, trans, etc... Somehow medical professionals are the only entities being held responsible in the fight against HIV.
Yes, doctors, clinicians & hospitals could do more to promote HIV treatment & prevention. But, so could other social institutions. For a long time, I've believed a person is ultimately responsible for their own health & well-being. Sometimes circumstances might prevent that. But if they can be, they should be the one's promoting their own welfare.
After decades of HIV education & prevention, when are adults held reasonably responsible for their own health? Why isn't it their task to seek out an HIV test? We expect them to go get a flu shot, why not this? An HIV test is a medical procedure, not some mysterious, occult practice.
Medical professionals should ask everyone their status & when they were last tested. They should assume every individual is at risk & proceed accordingly. However, every capable adult should seek out these things on their own. Their health is ultimately their responsibility.
Cya...
No comments:
Post a Comment