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Behaviors Endangering the Public Health
The local health officer is the physician hired to direct the operations of the local county's health department or health district.
Court enforcement of these orders can be sought. State law delineates the standards that must be met before action by the health officer may be taken.
For some states, healthcare providers who have knowledge that a specific patient is failing to comply with infection control measures (e.g., acquisition of a new STD, sex without disclosure of HIV status prior to sexual partners, failure to disclose HIV status to needle-sharing partners, or donating or selling HIV-infected blood, etc.) should contact the local public health officer to discuss the circumstances of the case and to determine if the name of the person should be reported for investigation and follow-up.
The health officer or other authorized representative will investigate the case if credible evidence exists that an HIV-infected person is engaging in conduct endangering the public health.
There are also other laws and regulations concerning behaviors endangering and occupational exposures. These may be specific to professions and to the jurisdictions of public health officers. For more specific information, talk with public health officials in your area.
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Discrimination
