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On Thursday, state
Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) introduced legislation that
would make New Jersey the first state to mandate
HIV testing
for both pregnant women and newborns. Under the proposal, all pregnant women
would undergo HIV testing twice, early in the pregnancy and during the third
trimester. Every birthing center in the state would be required to test all
newborns in their care.
Codey on Friday called his bill a "no brainer." "The key in the fight
against HIV and AIDS is early detection and treatment. For newborns this can
be a lifesaving measure." Codey said a CDC report that found medical
treatment during pregnancy can dramatically reduce mother-to-child HIV
transmission prompted him to write the bill.
Current state law requires only that providers offer HIV tests to pregnant
women. Under Codey's legislation, the test would be administered unless a
woman chooses to opt out in writing. The measure will be scheduled for
hearings in the upcoming weeks.
According to the Kaiser Foundation, Arkansas, Michigan, Tennessee, and Texas
require health care providers to test a mother for HIV unless she
specifically asks not to be tested. New York and Connecticut are the only
states that test all newborns for HIV, the foundation reports.
New Jersey has some of the highest rates of total AIDS cases, women with
AIDS, and pediatric HIV/AIDS cases, Kaiser said.
Associated
Press (05.12.07):: Tom Hester Jr. |
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