For immediate release
September 21, 2006

Statement attributable to:
Nancy Nielsen, MD
AMA Board Member

"The recommendations released today by the CDC to make HIV screening a routine part of medical care will greatly help in the diagnosis of HIV infection. These recommendations are important for early diagnosis and to reduce the stigma still associated with HIV testing. This is an important public health strategy to stop the spread of HIV.

"Currently more than 250,000 Americans are believed to be living with HIV, yet they remain unaware of their infection. Nearly 40 percent of individuals diagnosed with HIV are diagnosed within one year of developing full-blown AIDS, when it may be too late for them to benefit fully from treatment. Early diagnosis is critical for people with HIV to receive life-extending therapy and to reduce HIV transmission to others.

"The AMA will work with the CDC and other organizations to devise tools and offer guidance to enable physicians to move toward the control of HIV infection in the U.S. The AMA asks states to re-examine state legislation to allow physicians to carry out the new CDC recommendations and urges physicians to begin implementing the recommendations as soon as possible."

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For more information, please contact:

Erin Abbey
AMA Media Relations
312-464-5926
Erin.Abbey@ama-assn.org

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