A doctor in north Cumbria has played a leading role in developing national guidance to support the understanding of HIV and the law.
The guidance, ‘British HIV Association Position Statement on HIV and the Law’, supports both clinicians and people living with HIV by clarifying some of the issues where the law overlaps with clinical practice, thereby working to reduce undue concern and stigma.
Professor Matt Phillips, associate medical director at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust, said:
“I’m really proud to have been the chair for this writing group of national experts from the third sector, the legal academic sector and healthcare. It may not be known that people living with HIV can be prosecuted in the UK when the virus is transmitted unintentionally. This can leave people living with HIV with questions about risks in relation to criminal prosecution and practitioners unclear of the right advice to give.
“While the issue of transmission is clearer – if someone’s viral load is undetectable then the virus is not transmittable – people living with HIV remain at risk of allegations of criminal transmission, and sometimes prosecution.
“This work has significance in north Cumbria too- it is useful anywhere where clinicians might be advising people living with HIV about transmission. That occurs in general practices, antenatal work, on acute wards etc - not just in specialised services.
“I’m delighted to be part of this work, as I was in 2013 for the last iteration. It is an area I have contributed to over the majority of my professional career- it’s wonderful to contribute to work that really furthers the cause of the people we serve and I’m really chuffed to showcase that north Cumbria is a place that contributes to national work.”
You can read the full guidance on the British HIV Association’s website