Partners of HIV carriers have right to know

An HIV positive patient, not pictured, receives a blood pressure test in Weishi county, Central China's Henan province in this Nov 30, 2015 file photo. [Photo/Xinhua]

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.

Some places such as southwestern China's Yunnan province and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region have put in place local legislation that requires people who know they have AIDS or are HIV-positive to inform their spouses or those they have sexual relations with. Other provinces could learn some lesson.