VENEREAL DISEASE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 115, 19 May 1925, Page 8

VENEREAL DISEASE

COMPULSORY: NOTiFICA-

iTION

STRINGENT REGULATIONS PROPOSED

PROTEOTION:'#ROM INFECTION;

Ata'meetiJig"of the Board of Health yestardSjO afternoon, "the" Minister of Health submitted for consideration proposed^ieguiaticms giving effect to the recomnjjendajjpns.pf the Committee on VenereaT~Dißea~sesy it'having been found ithat the powers desired could be sepured \y- the issue ■of Regulations. ■ •;

The board decided-to support the issue of the regulations, and to urge the Minister to bring them into force, without delay.-.....-^,., ■■:..-■. > -.-..- „-•■..

It is understood that the regulations require,. all.parsons suffering from yeBereal..,djsease,.to submit . to medical treatment. •• • ' If a patient fails to continue treat-, znenfc until cured, it becomes the duty of the doctor"to notify the case confidentially to therOireetor-General of Health. DISEASE! IN A COMMUNICABLE In addition, power is given to the Director-General of Health when he has reason to believe that any person is suffering from "a venereal disease'in' a communicable form to require such person to submit himself; for examination to some medical practitioner, who shall forward his report to- the Director-General of Health. If the report is positive, the person must submit to treatment; and if the person fails io do so, he then becomes liable to a fine of £20. DETENTION ORDERS Power is also given to the DirectorGeneral p,f,. Health to. issue detention orders.'Tgqnjring persons- suffering from venereal disease to be detained in hospital, or other.place, where they may pc effectively isolated. Any person so dcitained has a ri?ht of appeal to a Stipendiary Magistrate. Special arrangements will bo made for free treatment where the circumstances of tbe_ person concerned requires this. The Director-General has power to "arrange. ior<, treatment "at the cost of the State. .-.:. : , . WARNING NOTICES Medical men are also required to give •warning notices to all patients suffering from venereal disease. The warning notice is that they aro .required to continue treatment; and, if they fail, they render themselves "liable to a fine!'' If the patient is not married, the- patient is ■warned against marrying until medically certified as cured. ... "KNOWINGLY INFECTING" A fine, is provided for knowingly infecting any other person; also for working in any capacity where the patient is likely to infect food for human consumption. All persons concerned: in the adminis-. tration of the regulations are required to maintain .strict secrecy, and are forbidden ;-,to l 'communicate any matter except aVmay■ 'be required in the performance of'tlieuvVdutiesl. '.'..:. ;.' . •-■-'- All, notices and communications sent through-the- post are required to be marked '.'confidential." '

The'-regulations/ of. which' the "above is a .^ummaryr'simply., embody.- the recommendations.' of'- the; .Committee on yeneieal Diseases.:.;. ..,.:..: .....