Debate Teams, Fall 2001

The following are the issues included on our questionnaire asking how students respond to ethical issues related to AIDS. Student votes for each statement are recorded. For those statements that have been selected as one of the issues to be debated this semesters, students are listed indicating whether they will support the pro or the con side of the issue. An acronym is provided that will be used in scheduling and at other times when we need to refer to the debate groups.
Debate Question
 Agree Disagree
Team
1. The United States should commit funds to support basic health infrastructure needs in Africa before it contributes funds to the provision of anti-HIV drugs on that continent. That is, without adequate support for health infrastructure, the United States should not support anti-AIDS projects.
9
20
2. Patients should be allowed to learn the HIV status of their medical care providers. This would require mandatory HIV testing and disclosure of results.
8
21
3. Physicians should be allowed to learn the HIV status of their patients. This would require HIV testing with or without the permission of patients. (HIV-Docs)
10
19

Butler(c), Nelson(c), Winkler(c),
Cancro(p), Jamieson (p)


November 14

4. Therapeutic drugs used to treat HIV should only be given to those who can and are willing to be responsible about participating in their treatment. Thus, physicians would be expected to make judgments about whether drug abusers are still active users and whether patients are likely to engage in safe sex. (Responsible Drugs)
7
22

Spaziani(c),Trapp(c),
Tunison(p),Sorber(p),Kocay(p),


November 12

5. At residential colleges like Bucknell students should be informed if one of their roommates is HIV+. That means that the university should provide this information if the affected individual does not do so. (Note: there is scant literature on the pro-side of this question.)
3
26
6. . Generic drug companies should be allowed to sell anti-AIDS drugs in less developed countries without the United States government imposing trade sanctions or prosecuting for patent violations. (Generic)
23
5

McDonald (c), Conolly(c),
Fruchtenbaum(c)
Lawlor(p), Fulmer(p)

November 16
7. The US government should sponsor needle exchange programs, administered in local communities, for intravenous drug users. (Needle Exchange)
18
11


Kofke(c), Breitenbach(c),
De Los Santos(c)
Crowe(p), Lyon(p), Browne(p)
November 9

8. It would be ethical to test an HIV vaccine in Africa even though in the end it might not be possible to distribute the vaccine there. (Test Vaccine)
12
17
Rives(c),Trezona(c), Wood(c),
Wolfe(p)Grandfield(p)
November 19