Section 3Sec./Art. 3

Definition of terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms are defined as follows:

(a) "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)" – a condition characterized by a combination of signs and symptoms, caused by HIV contracted from another person and which attacks and weakens the body's immune system, making the afflicted individual susceptible to other life-threatening infections.

(b) "Anonymous Testing" – refers to an HIV testing procedure whereby the individual being tested does not reveal his/her true identity. An identifying number or symbol is used to substitute for the name and allows the laboratory conducting the test and the person on whom the test is conducted to match the test results with the identifying number or symbol.

(c) "Compulsory HIV Testing" – refers to HIV testing imposed upon a person attended or characterized by the lack of or vitiated consent, use of physical force, intimidation or any form of compulsion.

(d) "Contact tracing" – refers to the method of finding and counselling the sexual partner(s) of a person who has been diagnosed as having sexually transmitted disease.

(e) "Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)" – refers to the virus which causes AIDS.

(f) "HIV/AIDS Monitoring" – refers to the documentation and analysis of the number of HIV/AIDS infections and the pattern of its spread.

(g) "HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control" – refers to measures aimed at protecting non-infected from contracting HIV and minimizing the impact of the condition of persons living with HIV.

(h) "HIV-positive" – refers to the presence of HIV infection as documented by the presence of HIV or HIV antibodies in the sample being tested.

(i) "HIV-negative" – denotes the absence of HIV or HIV antibodies upon HIV testing.

(j) "HIV Testing" – refers to any laboratory procedure done on an individual to determine the presence or absence of HIV infection.

(k) "HIV Transmission" – refers to the transfer of HIV from one infected person to an uninfected individual, most commonly through sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, sharing of intravenous needles and during pregnancy.

(l) "High-Risk Behavior" – refers to a person's frequent involvement in certain activities which increase the risk of transmitting or acquiring HIV.

(m) "Informed Consent" – refers to the voluntary agreement of a person to undergo or be subjected to a procedure based on full information, whether such permission is written, conveyed verbally, or expressed indirectly.

(n) "Medical Confidentiality" – refers to the relationship of trust and confidence created or existing between a patient or a person with HIV and his attending physician, consulting medical specialist, nurse, medical technologist and all other health workers or personnel involved in any counselling, testing or professional care of the former; it also applies to any person who, in any official capacity, has acquired or may have acquired such confidential information.

(o) "Person with HIV" – refers to an individual whose HIV test indicates, directly or indirectly, that he/she is infected with HIV.

(p) "Pre-Test Counselling" – refers to the process of providing an individual information on the biomedical aspects of HIV/AIDS and emotional support to any psychological implications of undergoing HIV testing and the test result itself before he/she is subjected to the test.

(q) "Post-Test Counselling" – refers to the process of providing risk-reduction information and emotional support to a person who submitted to HIV testing at the time that the test result is released.

(r) "Prophylactic" – refers to any agent or device used to prevent the transmission of a disease.

(s) "Sexually Transmitted Diseases" – refers to any disease that may be acquired or passed on through sexual contact.

(t) "Voluntary HIV Testing" – refers to HIV testing done on an individual who, after having undergone pre-test counselling, willingly submits himself/herself to such test.

(u) "Window Period" – refers to the period of time, usually lasting from two weeks to six (6) months during which an infected individual will test "negative" upon HIV testing but can actually transmit the infection.

ARTICLE I

EDUCATION AND INFORMATION