Column: Offer Anonymous AIDS Testing

· This week, Penn recognized World AIDS day, and a five-foot prophylactic was seen passing out condoms on Locust Walk, encouraging safer sex. The event was part of Student Health's efforts to heighten awareness of AIDS. And Student Health is planning a series of such awareness activities for the year to come. But what is Student Health providing in the way of AIDS testing? What options is the facility giving to students who wish to learn if they have contracted the virus? One can go to Student Health and pick up a list of ten HIV testing sites in the Philadelphia area. The site listed at the top of the page is Student Health Services, offering confidential testing. At the bottom of the page is the following note: "Confidential testing leaves a 'paper trial' linking you to the test result. This can cause potential problems when seeking future insurance. We [Student Health] advise anonymous testing because it uses code names or numbers so that nothing links you to the test." So if Student Health recommends anonymous testing, why does it fail to provide that service for the members of the Penn community? It's because Student Health believes that anonymous testing conflicts with the aims of a health care unit. Kate Webster, Student Health coordinator, has explained that the facility's role is to provide treatment, to care for its patients. Anonymous testing sites are absolved of this responsibility: caring for clients is impossible, for the individuals' identities are unknown. To keep the facility's practices consistent with its goals, Student Health has turned to confidential testing. The University would only provide anonymous testing if a separate, non-treatment-oriented testing site was established. Marjeanne Collins, Director of Student Health, points out some negative consequences of having this type of separate, university-affiliated site. Realistically, the set-up would be far from anonymous. Students would risk running into friends, acquaintances -- simply being seen approaching or exiting the site might be problematic. Given the options of running into someone from class or finding a site off-campus, many students would choose to go for testing elsewhere. So, concludes Student Health, anonymous testing is a service that is best left in off-campus hands. But "best" for whom? If this is the conclusion that Student Health is coming to, maybe the facility should reevaluate its role in the Penn community. Student Health needs to broaden its definition of "treatment," for it is the present definition that is preventing Student Health from conducting anonymous AIDS testing at its own site. Certainly AIDS-related care deserves to be an exception to traditional Student Health practices. AIDS remains incurable -- no health care unit can administer truly effective treatment in this area. Therefore, facilities should gear much care to improving the patients' mental health. When Student Health eases the psychological tolls of dealing with AIDS, this is treatment in and of itself. An anonymous test administered at Student Health would greatly benefit the Penn community. The facility is a familiar site, and students would not have to venture into an unknown locale for the exam. This would ease an often overwhelming testing experience. In addition, anonymous testing sites in the Philadelphia area tend to be overcrowded, and the lines have grown longer now that Magic Johnson has brought the issue home to so many. Students may not be able to make an appointment unless they go to the site. In contrast, Student Health provides easier access -- both in location and making an appointment. And placing testing in the same facility would help insure anonymity; who knows or cares why any individual patient is in the waiting room? Students don't like to think about AIDS. The disease is so overwhelming that students often fail to find out the status of their health -- even when they may have put themselves at great risk. But it is important for the health of everyone that these students seek testing. Student Health's AIDS education efforts are a first step. Now Student Health should consider backing up its education efforts with a service students can really benefit from -- in-house anonymous AIDS testing. Elinor Nathanson is a senior Communications major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Just In The Nick Of Time appears alternate Fridays.