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Aids

Volume 110: debated on Thursday 12 February 1987

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asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures govern the giving of consent by (a) prisoners and (b) detained patients to being tested for AIDS; and what information is given to them on the outcome of such tests.

If the doctors caring for a prisoner or a patient detained in hospital because of mental disorder consider that a test for the presence of HIV antibodies is necessary, the individual would first be counselled on the significance and implications of the test and his or her informed consent would be required before it could be carried out. The prisoner or patient would be informed of the result of the test and given further counselling whether this was positive or negative. The procedures relating to the testing of prisoners for HIV antibodies are outlined in guidelines issued by the Scottish Home and Health Department to prison medical officers on 10 October 1986, which amplified earlier guidance given on this subject. Updated guidelines on the testing of all other patients were issued by the Department to all doctors on 12 December 1986.