English 22
Lamb
April 2, 2011
Mandatory AIDS Testing for Job Applicants
In her essay “Mandatory AIDS Testing for Job Applicants,” Eileen Williams says these tests will lead to discrimination in the wok place, and breaks the law because it is an invasion of privacy. “The U.S Public Health Service assures that AIDS cannot be transmitted through casual contact in the workplace, and can only be transmitted through sexual contact, the sharing of needles, or blood transfusions.”(215). AIDS is a rapidly spreading disease and a major problem in the workplace, but no one should be judged based on the fact that they have been diagnosed with AIDS. Once an employer knows that his or her employee has AIDS, problems will only occur. …show more content…
She quotes, “fortunately, as stated in a U.S News and World Report article, contract law forbids insurers from barring newly diagnosed AIDS patients from group health plans (215).” Even though this law may be strictly enforced, a man living in Colorado tested himself for AIDS and did not have it, and was refused based on the assumption that he may be too much of a risk. Discrimination may not only lead to the workplace or insurance companies, but may also lead to his or her personal life. If I had a friend who I knew had AIDS, I would be very cautious in sharing drinks or food with him or …show more content…
(216). I agree with her that AIDS is an invasion of privacy, and may only lead to problems in the workplace. Imagine if you were an employer, and you found out that your employee had AIDS, you may want to start looking for a new employee because you may fear that he or she does not have the capable skills to do productive work. Actually you are wrong, there are millions of people in the work force that have AIDS, and are just as productive or more productive at doing there given tasks. Another quote that Williams says is “AIDS victims-like everyone else-have the right to live normal lives, and as long as they are able to perform their duties, they should not be discriminated against (216). Like I said before, people with AIDS are just like you and I, who want to live their lives to the fullest. If you take away their job because they have been diagnosed with AIDS, you are just making their lifespan even shorter. Also, if you had AIDS wouldn’t you want to be treated