1998 Florida Code
TITLE XXIX PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 381 Public Health: General Provisions  
381.0037   Findings; intent.

381.0037  Findings; intent.--The Legislature finds that acquired immune deficiency syndrome, otherwise known as AIDS, constitutes a serious and unique danger to the public health and welfare. The Legislature finds that acquired immune deficiency syndrome is transmitted by sexual activity, by intravenous drug use, or from an infected mother to a fetus and that public fear of contagion from casual contact is not supported by any scientific evidence. The Legislature finds that acquired immune deficiency syndrome is transmitted by a retrovirus which makes the possibility of development of an immunization or cure highly unlikely in the near future. The Legislature finds that, once infected, there is a high probability that an individual will develop acquired immune deficiency syndrome or a related syndrome and die a premature death as a result but may live productively for years in a communicable state without showing any signs or symptoms of illness. The Legislature finds the unique methods of transmission of this disease and its inevitably fatal course have raised public fears; changed the attitudes of employers, insurers, educators, law enforcement personnel, and health and medical providers about dealing with the disease; and unexpectedly raised the medical costs of this state. The Legislature intends to establish programs and requirements related to acquired immune deficiency syndrome which carefully balance medical necessity, the right to privacy, and protection of the public from harm and which establish public programs for the care and treatment of persons with acquired immune deficiency syndrome and related conditions.

History.--s. 1, ch. 88-380; s. 17, ch. 91-297.

Note.--Former s. 381.607.