Physical Wellness
Planned Parenthood Okays Non-Disclosure of HIV Status to Partners
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, an affiliate of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), has recently caused a major public uproar after declaring in their published guide for HIV youth that disclosure of HIV condition to sexual partners is a 'human right'.
The IPPF booklet which bears the title "Healthy Happy and Hot" appears to suggest a rather controversial stance which left many feeling confused over the organization's human rights philosophy that goes beyond the already polarizing debate on abortion.
"Young people living with HIV have the right to decide if, when, and how to disclose their HIV status. ... Sharing your HIV status is called disclosure. Your decision about whether to disclose may change with different people and situations. You have the right to decide if, when, and how to disclose your HIV status," IPPF stated as directly quoted from their newly published HIV guide.
Because of IPPF's recent pronouncement, there is a growing public perception that Planned Parenthood seems to affirm a divergent view that celebrates the irresponsible sexual rights and freedoms of young HIV positives at the expense of others.
In the United States, 35 state legislatures have passed laws making non-disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners a criminal offense.
In response to the foregoing, the organization calls on HIV-positive youths to challenge existing laws that penalize non-divulging of their condition to partners.
"These laws violate the rights of people living with HIV by forcing them to disclose or face the possibility of criminal charges," said Planned Parenthood as stated by Niagara Falls Reporter.
But not everyone is convinced.
Kimberly Ells who writes for The Federalist argued that disclosure is fundamentally a moral obligation for any HIV positive to do and criticized Planned Parenthood's public-funded sex education programs that make the youth think along their way of thinking.
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