Response to reviews of HIV Exceptionalism

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-99
Author(s):  
Adia Benton
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Exceptionalism

Shadow of HIV exceptionalism 40 years later

2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-106908
Author(s):  
Michela Blain ◽  
Stephaun E Wallace ◽  
Courtney Tuegel
Keyword(s):  
Implicit Bias ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
The Social ◽  
Hiv Exceptionalism ◽  
Medical Advances

During the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, it was crucial that providers take steps to protect patients by managing HIV with the perspective of ‘HIV exceptionalism’. However, in 2020, the social and historical barriers erected by this concept, as demonstrated in this patient’s case, are considerably impeding progress to end the epidemic. With significant medical advances in HIV treatment and prevention, the policies informed by HIV exceptionalism now paradoxically perpetuate stigma and inequities, particularly for people of colour. To improve overall HIV care, the medical community must move past HIV exceptionalism by liberalising diagnostics, instituting clinician implicit bias training and advocating to fully decriminalise HIV non-disclosure.

Genetic Exceptionalism vs. Paradigm Shift: Lessons from HIV

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lainie Friedman Ross
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Consent Forms ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Anonymous Testing ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Exceptionalism

The term “exceptionalism” was introduced into health care in 1991 when Bayer described “HIV exceptionalism” as the policy of treating the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) different from other infectious diseases, particularly other sexually transmitted diseases. It was reflected in the following practices: pre- and post-HIV test counseling, the development of specific separate consent forms for HIV testing, and stringent requirements for confidentiality of HIV test results. The justification for these practices was the belief that testing was essential for prevention and that patients might not seek HIV testing if confidentiality were not guaranteed. Confidentiality was believed to be particularly important given the degree of discrimination and stigmatization associated with the illness. Anonymous testing was a further step in ensuring strict confidentiality, even though such a practice prevented public officials from contacting partners and others who were at risk.

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