According to the Washington Posts arictle "N.J. Eyes HIV Tests for Moms, Newborns" published on March 22 2007, it is possible that New Jersey will become the first state in the US to require both pregnant woman and newborns to be tested for HIV. The proposal is being pushed by an influetial lawmaker in Trenton New Jersey, Senate President Richard J Codey. The legislations will require the testing unless the mother specifially chooses "in writing" to reject the test. According to the Kaiser Foundation "four states _ Arkansas, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas _ require health care providers to test a mother for HIV, unless the mother specifically asks not to be tested." New York and Connecticut are the only current states that test all newborns.
I think this is a good idea and feel that because it is not harmful or time consuming all the states should adopt this policy of testing. I'm glad a state is stepping up and making it a requirement i just hope the rest begin to follow suit.
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I agree... We must step up in the AIDS epidemic if we ever hope to stop the spread. Obviously, AIDS will not disappear from the world anytime soon, but it would be great if we could slow down the spread, and this is one step towards that goal.
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