to think I should have been informed they were testing me for HIV?

[islandbaby]

Because I´ve been living abroad for the first 7.5 months of my pregnancy, the local midwife wanted me to see a nurse and to have my bloods tested again a few weeks ago, as all my previous results are in spanish.

When I went to see a different midwife for a routine pregnancy check up a few days ago, she said she'd fetch my blood results and informed me that everything was looking good, iron levels ok etc and that I had tested negative for HIV.

I was, honestly, shocked. I had no idea they were testing me for HIV. I thought you had to give consent, and that you would be given the results with counselling if needed? What if I had been casually informed by the midwife that I had tested positive for HIV?

The midwife who gave me my results seemed concerned that I hadn't known I was being tested, and I wonder if it's something I should bring up with the nurse who took my blood?

opinions?

it is routine to check, but they should have informed you, i am really shock they ignore the spanish notes, because they are in spanish, i went to a spanish doctor in christmas, 5 months pregnant and he had a good reading of my notes, i wonder why cos i am pretty sure the twat doesn't speak any english.

You are absolutely not being unreasonable and I can't believe those who are saying you are. They should not carry out a blood test without informing you what it is for and getting your permission. This is bad practice and you should follow it up.

I had to sign a list of all tests.

i can't remember if i sign, it was over 10 months ago, you see... but i do remember the midwife spending half an hour to explain what would they test for and the posible consequences of any positives, toston.

I've had to sign permission for all my blood test including HIV and the midwife has verbally went through the list instead of just leaving me to sign it.

island, can i ask a rude question?, are you spanish? i am and my midwife asssumed i don't speak english good enought to understand i detail, i noticed she was speaking slooooowwly and. pro.noun.cing. reaaaaaaaally care.fu.lly, so i asked point blank if there was something wrong with her?, apparently they find a lot of people who don't speak good english so if you don't have a very brittish name they assume the worst until proven otherwise, spanish notes would certainly provoke panic in my clinic. i hope you are not offended by this, but if you think that is the case complain and loudly.

I was certainly told about it and I opted out. I think you should have been told. Lots of things are 'routine' but it doesn't mean you have to have them done.

Have we all been tested then? I didnt know I had been (was pregnant last year?) I think its a good thing myself and in some countries you have to be tested before you get married (ie France) I thought usually they needed consent though here.

My concern with such tests wouldn't be the fact that I was tested for HIV, it would be the lack of information.
I've had about 4 blood tests in the past year only once did the Dr explain what the test was.
Normally they just say oh we'll do a blood test as well to make sure everything is okay. I guess I could always ask, but when it's the GP, I always feel they're in a rush given the 10min rule, that I end up leaving with lots of questions.

Oh and no ones ever asked me to consent to the tests. That's just taken as read.

YANBU they should have sought consent.

But aren't you ultimately elated, since there must be some reason why you thought you might test +ve ?

technically should have got informed consent.

however it raises an interesting question as to why we think of a hiv test as different from any other blood test when hiv is largely controllable with medication now
I think its the stigma associated with the test/diagnosis which is a great shame. should be as routine as testing for any other illness imo which in turn would get rid of stigma around being diagnosed with hiv

Interesting responses.

No, had no reason to think about being +ve, it wasn´t something I was thinking about at all to be honest.

In Chile, where I was living, they didn't test me for HIV or ask me if I wanted the test, so it didn't occur to me that it would be a part of pregnancy bloods here. So when the midwife said 'let's do your bloods again', I assumed it would be the same set as I had in Chile.

I will mention it when I go back in next time.

(and no, wouldliketoknow, I am not spanish, but don't worry I didn't find your question at all rude)

I was told recently at booking in appt that they ask for your consent for all blood tests including HIV.

I'm pregnant, and was offered HIV test which I declined, along with rubella as I'd just had them done via my ivf clinic and it seemed like a waste of resources to immediately repeat it. I didn't have to sign anything but the hospital midwife wrote and signed my notes to this effect.
You shouldn't have to be tested for, or given the results for anything without your consent.

YANBU. Informed consent should be obtained before a medical procedure. If you were not made aware what your blood would be tested for then you clearly weren't fully informed, you did not know what you consenting to, and you have grounds to complain.

It might seem like a trivial thing to some people, but it's bad practice on the part of the nurse. me23 is right, the tests are routinely offered but this does not mean consent isn't required.

I had to sign a consent form as results get sent to the government here. Had no reason to be +ve but I worried until I got the -ve knowing full well that a +ve would have meant leaving the country.

My worry in the OP case would have been if the nurse assumed you already knew you were +ve and dropped it into conversation.

YANBU but don't let it worry you.

YANBU you should have been told exactly what they were testing for. Yes it's routine but can you imagine the shock of a person being told that they re HIV Positive when they weren't even aware they had been tested for it?

I remember being told what the tests (including HIV) were going to be but cannot remember being asked to sign a consent form.
Saffy, I understand what you are saying but in the event you tested positive for a test you did not know was done would you rather not know the result? On one side I agree it sould not be done without consent but on the other it will also affect the family (DH/DP you are having sex with and your unborn child) as well as yourself(Using "you" as a generic term, not as "saffy85"BTW)it is a really tough one.

OP, I would bring it up with the MV though just to make sure that in the future they make sure people are asked their consent to avoid all the issues that were mentionned on here.

Obviously I would want to know the result, especially while pregnant! Was merely pointing out that it would be a nasty shock being sat down to be told you have HIV if you hadn't realised you had been tested.

Last time I was pregnant I was told I was Rhesus Negative, no big deal except my MW hadn't explained about the tests and what they all meant so I panicked that it was something really bad.

why the ?

What you have learnt is that next time a health professional wants to take a blood test or a urine sample all you have to do is to say very politely "of course you can have a sample, but please tell me what it will be tested for". You shouldn't have to but IMO that's what you have to do and I have often been surprised at the answer "it's routine" which I think everyone will agree is a completely unacceptable response.

So when the midwife said 'let's do your bloods again', I assumed it would be the same set as I had in Chile.

And perhaps the midwife thought precisely the same ?

Cumfy - perhaps, but isn't it the midwife's job to ensure she gives sufficient information, not just assume that she has done so?

Goodness, I'm surprised it's now routine as I was told I'd have my life insurance declined if I'd had (and stated) on the form I'd had a test.

This was about 5-ish years ago.

yeah i was told the same thing about insurance - many years ago