Mock hearing on AIDS held in Beijing
(cri)
Updated: 2005-11-27 14:03

A mock hearing on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment was held Saturday at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

The hearing was the second of its kind, first initiated by Chinese legal experts in 2002.

The hearing focused on the legitimacy of compulsory HIV tests on patients before operations, availability of clean syringes, and detoxification therapies provided by the government for drug addicts.

Sixteen people participated in the debate, including a person with HIV, a doctor and a policeman.

Professor Li Dun, who organized the two hearings, said the second was different because officials and lawmakers did not chair the hearing, and the conclusion of the proceedings will be briefed to the State Council and the Ministry of Health.

Ethicist Wang Ruotao argued that people should only take HIV tests when they donate their blood or organs, while Doctor Xu Lianzhi said patients should be encouraged to test as long as they are adequately informed about the test and its ramifications.

At present, patients have to pay for the HIV test before operations in case of potential medical disputes, including infection of the virus to doctors via blood.

Meanwhile, Wu Zunyou, a researcher on AIDS prevention, claimed drug addicts should be allowed to use clean syringes and methadone, a safer and more-controlled alternative to heroin, which would help curb the spread of the disease and drug-related crimes.

However, Professor Qiu Zeqi with Peking University noted the move would not help address the root causes of HIV/AIDS, saying it is a sign of appeasement on drug abuse.