Phillip Read
Clinical posts from members and guests of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) from various international medical and scientific conferences on HIV, AIDS, viral hepatitis, and sexual health.
Treatment as prevention discussion
Just got back from a debate on “treatment as prevention”, although the speakers only really disagreed on how easy such a policy would be to achieve, rather than whether it is the right strategy. Julio Montaner from British Columbia pointed out the reductions in HIV diagnoses in his setting, which he attributes to increased use of HAART and Kenneth Mayer from the US discussed not losing focus on testing since 54% of infections are from the 21% of those living with HIV but untested.
It was left to the co-chair Sean Stub from the USA to question the ethics, coercion and autonomy issues that need to considered, and also the potential legal ramifications for those who do not accept treatment as prevention… are they now at risk of prosecution for transmission?