Partners of HIV carriers have right to know

A MAN is suing a hospital in Yongcheng, Central China's Henan province, after testing HIV-positive. He claims he was infected by his wife who was given a "normal" result by the hospital in a pre-marriage health test. China News on Monday comments:

The man's wife was later reported to be registered as a carrier of the virus with the local center for disease prevention and control. As stated in the Regulation on the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS, the privacy of people infected or carrying the virus should be protected. But carriers of the virus have a responsibility to inform their potential partners.

If the woman knew she was infected with the virus, she should have told her husband before they got married. The health department, according to the regulations, should protect the privacy of those who are HIV-positive. But close relatives, especially spouses, and partners should be told the truth.